Life is a trickster. The universe can fool us into thinking we are in a scene from The Wizard of Oz. The one where Dorothy reaches a fork in the road and Scarecrow pops up and says you could go that way or you could take that road or that one.

Confusion at the path to take seems to be one of life’s little jokes. And we humans seem to buy into the ploy very easily. Lately I’ve been thinking about how many brick walls I’ve confronted and how I’ve changed my attitude when they appear. How much time I’ve wasted being afraid, but thinking about that only wastes more time.

Sadly, when the road we’ve chosen seems blocked we’re tempted to halt, figure out a way to move or break it down and become frustrated.

I’ve learned after many headaches from hitting my head against these walls that roadblocks can actually be good things and prevent us from going the wrong way or taking a road fraught with danger.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t overcome the challenges life sends, but knowing when to walk around the brick wall in front of you instead of hitting your head on it proves the wisest course of action.

Most of us have a plan for our lives. One of life’s best tricks is allowing us to start down a chosen path with no potholes in the road.

We become complacent in our victory secure in the fact we’ve chosen wisely and created our own scenario.

That’s kind of when life says, “Sorry, time for my big surprise now.”

We of course disagree because most human beings like consistency. We’re creatures of habit and like knowing our routine is going smoothly. Disruptions create angst and frustrations, with which we’d rather not deal.

We’ve all been faced with life’s surprises.

The corporation you’ve worked for and planned to retire from downsizes and eliminates your job.

You don’t get into the college you’ve selected.

Your husband or wife meets someone else and wants to call an end to your marriage.

Your children decide they want to explore the world in lieu of college.

Someone gets sick and dies leaving you devastated.

Unexpected and tragic these setbacks disrupt our lives and change everything.

However, aside from death which one can argue is never an upside to life, the other circumstances or changes can also afford new positive opportunities to achieve goals. Despite bemoaning the fact that a plan didn’t go according to one’s specifics, perhaps we are meant to see change as an\ chance to write a new script for our lives using the knowledge we’ve acquired and didn’t possess when originally created.

We all see ourselves living a certain existence, achieving chosen goals, having things and going places selected by and for us.

It’s understandable that when our dreams don’t materialize, but instead are sabotaged by destiny we wonder how we could’ve been so off the mark.

Ah, but that’s the trickster at work. Perhaps we are actually right on target and inching toward our true destiny without realizing the path that lies ahead is better.

So does a shift in plans signal an end to all our previous dreams? Or does it actually allow us old dreams plus new ones we never even realized were in our hearts?

Sometimes in life we think too small. Now go with me here. We don’t dream big enough. We may believe that we’re restricted by the opinions and motives of those around us. To dream so far out of our comfort zone is a foolhardy venture.

If one is fortunate enough to have parents and loved ones that teach there are no limits to what one can achieve, then no one should be surprised when far more extraordinary opportunities present themselves. A sky’s the limit mentality is crucial for success.

Those with the attitude they can achieve anything find it easy to overcome barriers life erects to guide us onto another path.

However, many become stuck at the wall. Saddened and disillusioned and afraid to move for fear the other side will bring further loss. They don’t see the opportunity in change only the failure of a long-held dream.

So how does one move forward when we are mourning our old life?

If one sees change as a death, I guess the best way to deal with it would be the same as any other grief situation. It works for me.

Shock, denial, deal making, sadness, acceptance and all the other steps entailed in resolution. There doesn’t seem to be a certain time allotted to these stages and I’ve noticed through experience that one can often slip backward triggered by a memory or momentary setback. In the end embracing the inevitable is how to move forward despite feelings of loss.

Hanging on to dreams and realizing they are gone is not easy to reconcile. For me it’s totally understandable one feels a sense of loss at their passing; I have.

However, unlike death which is permanent and cannot be undone, new opportunities and goals can arise from the ashes like a phoenix and bring experiences far more glorious and unexpected than one ever dreamed.

The funny part for me is that that many times I’ve wound up living out old dreams on that new path. What’s in your heart isn’t erased by a simple change in direction, but can still play out in different ways.

At the end of the day life wins, because the force of destiny is powerful. Despite the kicking and screaming to resist, in the end my money is on fate.

Those who adjust and go happily seem to fare better than those who continue to hit their heads against the wall and bemoan their fate. I’ve done both.

Although some might disagree, I truly believe life delivers more for us than we are capable of getting for ourselves. Much like an Amazon delivery man dropping off an unexpected sofa. It may not fit into our arrangement, but it forces you to redecorate and the new room turns out spectacular.

I’ve learned after many wars with fate that in the end nothing in our heart is every lost or denied, but many things you didn’t even realize were there can be revealed in unexpected ways. Overthinking only delays the arrival of something positive.

I guess what I’ve learned is the next time life throws a curve not to cover my head and duck. Reach out, jump up and do whatever it takes to grab that ball because it could turn out to be the game-winning catch.

Easy Chicken With Artichoke and Spinach Dip

This easy recipe can be also easily be made in a casserole to save time. Your choice but the ingredients are all easy.

1 tub of artichoke and spinach dip. I like the brand at Costco as it’s beautifully blended and no one flavor stands out too much.

1 Chicken cut up

1 cup of milk

salt

pepper

garlic powder

Wash chicken and pat very dry. Season pieces with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Use two tablespoons of dip and place under the skin.

Sear quickly in a frying pan to crisp skin

Place in oven covered at 350 and finish cooking chicken until it reaches proper internal temp. Take off cover last ten minutes of cooking to crisp skin. P.S. you can skip the searing part if you don’t care if it’s well browned and let it brown in the oven.

Remove from the oven and add 4 tablespoons of dip to 1 cup of milk.

Mix well and heat in microwave.

Plate chicken and pour extra sauce over the top. You can add the extra sauce to the dip that escaped in the pan first if you want.

To change this recipe to a casserole just eliminate the searing, add cut up chicken pieces and cook in the sauce. Add some shredded white cheese on top before baking. Serve family or as an appetizer for company.