We grow up — unavoidably — with a strong attachment to a plan A, that is, an idea of how our lives will go and what we need to do to achieve our particular set of well-defined goals.

But then, for some of us and at one level all of us, life turns out to have made a few other plans. A sudden injury puts a certain career forever out of reach. A small but significant error changes everything about how crucial others view us. And so, promptly, we find we have to give up on plan A altogether, which can feel devastating. We alternately weep and anger at the turn of events. It is for such moments that we should consider one of life’s most vital skills: that of developing a plan B.

The first element involves fully acknowledging that no one gets through life with all their careful plan As. Plan As simply do not work out all the time. Something unexpected, shocking and hateful regularly comes along, not only to us, but to all human beings.

The further point is to realize that we are, despite moments of confusion, absolutely capable of developing very satisfactory plan Bs. Adults are good at keeping needing to refresh in our minds and drawing comfort from in anxious moments. We have enormous capacities to act and to adapt. Perhaps we’ll have to leave town forever, maybe we’ll have to resign an occupation we spent a decade nurturing — until we rediscover our potential plan B muscle. In reality, there would be a possibility to relocate, to start afresh in another field, to turn around the terrible event. There was no one script for us written at our birth, and nor does there need to be only one going forward.

Crucially, we don’t need to know right now what our plan Bs might be or anticipate every frustration that might come our way; we should simply feel confident that, were the universe to command it, we would know how to find a very different path.

A．

B．

C．

D．

Smiles and tears are part of life. But do you find enough time for laughing? I’m not asking if you experience lots of good times. Of course, we should laugh during the happy times. 【小题1】.

【小题2】But she wrote one about a more serious subject-cancer in children. The book is titled I WANT TO GROW HAIR, I WANT TO GROW UP. Erma talks with many children who have cancer and learns important lessons from them. She learns, for example, that cancer survivors know how they should smile at life, though they are receiving chemotherapy (化疗).

【小题3】. Jessica’s leg was cut off at the knee because of cancer. She was learning to wear a prosthesis (假肢). Jessica told about playing soccer. She hit the ball hard with her foot. The ball flew off in one direction while her man-made leg flew another way. Then the brave girl lay on the floor, laughing happily.

As the saying goes, “【小题4】” Do you find plenty of time to laugh?

You can, if you find reasons to laugh during the difficult times. Survivors know how to laugh. If you can laugh even when you’re in trouble, you will make it. Remember, laugh and the whole world laughs with you.   【小题5】.

Are you terrified of what’s to come in the future? What if we don’t get into our dream schools?   What’s plan B? So much is on our 17-to 18-year-old minds. I didn’t exactly create aback up plan. I just adapted to every new situation I was put in.Here’s how my life didn’t go as planned, but I’m happier than ever.

In the year of 2016, I went into my dream school—Washington State University, where I’d beat tending school to study engineering. I visited my future school after I was already accepted. It was a school away from a major city. Cold feet came over me and I backed out of the school just before orientation (适应). This was a tough decision, but my heart wasn’t in it.When your heart isn’t in it, all you need to do is adjust.

My mom and I went to the Army recruiter’s (征兵人员的) office, where I enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Engineer. I’d never had a firm grasp of my identity from high school, so attending a military boot camp gave me a clean slate (新的开始), where I could become the person I wanted to be. When I came back home as an Army Engineer, I became one of the most confident people in my household. Everything seemed to be going to a plan that I had barely thought out. By the time I returned home in July of 2017 from Engineer training, I decided to enroll in my local community college. I had no high expectations for how community college would go. Turns out that my college was one of the best in the area and had a very diverse group of people from high schools I’d never interacted with. The people I met through clubs and classes at community college were beyond amazing people. I have friends for life.

I would not be where I am today without taking so many risks. I am grateful to my supportive parents and enlightening friends.