As a previously very anxious person, who was known for being super organised, I always had a plan B for everything. I would always catastrophise and think of the worst case scenario. Sometimes I'd even choose not to sign up to something or attend something in case I was in a crash or became ill! 

I missed out on so many opportunities as a teen/young adult. 

Now I see it as one of my strengths. Being super organised and always having a plan B that is.

A perfect example was last weekend. 

I'm head of Nintendo Players UK, one of the biggest Nintendo fan hubs in the UK, and THE biggest Nintendo fan hub in the UK that focuses more on the physical meet ups rather than gaming in the virtual space. 

I lead a committee of 9, and together we have fortnightly (late night) meetings, and keep each other accountable as well as support each other.

We have just celebrated our tenth anniversary as a hub. I'd organised a special podcast episode, a website article, and then tasked myself with organising a grand visit to Nintendo HQ (UK) itself, with a guest list of 50 people.

We had our date down, we had full capacity, we were ready to go... 

Then two things happened.

TRAIN STRIKES! A handful of people dropped out.

Then a week before we were due to meet, we were told we had NO VENUE!! Another handful of people dropped out...

This would have broken anxious me, but confident me knew exactly what to do. Corresponding with the contact at Nintendo, we worked out that there would "probably" be space at the local Wetherspoons... 

Then they went awol a few days before the event... 

I had to make an executive decision, do we go ahead or do we postpone/cancel?? 

I had booked a hotel that was non refundable, so this event was going ahead even if there were only a few left. It was a good 5 hour drive away, we were making a weekend of it whatever happened. 

The end result was just 15 of us meeting up, indeed we met in the Wetherspoons. We took over an alcove for the day, had a battery operated TV (on mute) and our Nintendo Switches for plenty of games. We had a blast, and no one who turned up regretted "spending the day in Wetherspoons" because our community is all about being together. That togetherness shone through, and I knew that what we've been working on for the last ten years has definitely been worth every challenge and experience. 

A side note too, that we didn't have childcare for that day. My plan B is my friend with a kid the same age. That plan B was sorted straight forwardly too.

What's the lesson here?

It's not about what you are unable to do, it's about what you CAN do. 
Reframe your thinking and you'll find the opportunities waiting for you