A Lister’s Lesson in the Unexpected

The leaves are changing, and pumpkins are patching, which can only mean Thanksgiving is knocking at our door. In the midst of this season of gathering, it can be so easy to unleash the to-do list: “I’ve got to plan for groceries; make sure the house is tidied up to the point where people doubt if we actually live here or not; oh, and make sure the group chat is crystal clear so everyone knows where we’re going and who’s bringing what.” While yes, obviously, these are things that matter and help make the holiday special. We can also quickly get so lost in checking off our lists that before you know it, we turkey coma ourselves into Christmas and then it’s 2027.

As someone who is a to-do list addict (I mean there could be worse things), I’m learning to take a break from the list and be in the moment. Unfortunately for me and my fellow listers, the best way to do that is by having unexpected moments interrupt your never-ending list. Ugh!

Finding Joy in the Unexpected

Traveling over the years has taught me how the unexpected can lead to some of your favorite memories. The memories become particularly hilarious and jolting when you’re navigating somewhere that doesn’t speak your native language.

Earlier this year, my husband and I visited Japan for the first time. Despite all of our extensive research and detailed itinerary planning, not everything went according to plan. Shocking, I know. These moments also gave us some of our favorite memories.

Early Mornings and Unexpected Discoveries

One of the unexpected things we embraced directly after landing in Tokyo was starting our day at 5:30 AM. Normally, my husband and I tend to be night owls, but we decided to lean into the jet lag. We quickly learned that sunrise was around then and most of the city was still asleep, so it was a great time to see the sites with much smaller crowds. This allowed us to beat the rush to see the famous Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates) and Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. After our hikes, we even rewarded ourselves with some matcha strawberry ice cream and donuts at 9:30 AM! Then, as we explored Kyoto over the next couple of hours, just wandering the different alleyways, we stumbled upon a restaurant that was one of our favorite meals of the entire trip. Japan is very well known for its wagyu steak, and they specialized in the hitsumabushi style.

In this style, you are given sliced wagyu steak over rice and enjoy it as is. Then, in your second cup, you add green onion and wasabi to the sliced wagyu and rice. In the last style, you put the slices of steak in a small bowl with broth. Trying it all three ways lets you savor it and find your favorite style without rushing. Personally, the wasabi on steak was my favorite because I never thought to try that before. Also, this set us on the mission to get wagyu as much as we could during our time in Japan, because we knew once we got back to the US it would be 10 times more costly. Had we started later and not had time to wander, we wouldn’t have enjoyed one of the best meals of our entire vacation!

Making the Most of Changing Plans

Another thing we hadn’t fully anticipated was the dramatic shift in weather! At the start of our trip, there was a heat wave, and it was extremely sunny. During the last 4 days, it was very rainy and cool. Thank goodness, I packed an extra sweater that I wasn’t sure I would even use until later. We learned that the sun was great for us exploring the sites and hiking in the mountains. The rainy weather was perfect for ramen and museums! Sometimes I really love a good rainy/gloomy day because it feels like you have permission to be cozy and not feel like you’re missing out on something. It made the city feel different.

A Small Act of Kindness With a Lasting Impact

If I had to highlight one experience that taught me to embrace the unexpected, it was the overwhelming kindness and genuine hospitality of many local residents. At one point during our time there, I won a silly keychain from one of the many crane games you’ll see around the cities and had attached it to my purse. The chain, of course, broke, because the materials probably cost 5 cents to make. I heard it drop on the metro and had assumed it was gone forever with all the people standing there. A woman on the train asked people to move aside and grabbed it for me when I was trying to tell her it’s really ok to leave it. It was something so small, yet this woman was probably running through her to-do list, and she stepped out of it to help me find a silly keychain.

Being Present for What Matters Most

I think we could all use a reminder to step outside of the busyness of our lives, with the million things calling for our attention, and remember the people around us. Is there, in some small way, a way we can brighten a stranger’s day or our friends’ day? This Thanksgiving, how can we create the space to be in the moment and appreciate the friends and family around the table? We don’t have to go all the way around the world to take hold of this idea. It means so much more when it’s in the middle of our extraordinarily ordinary life.

November 2026