The Unexpected

Samantha Behne

This New Year’s Eve turned out to be one of the most memorable nights of my life—I got engaged! It was perfect in so many ways. He had rented an outdoor igloo (for those of you not from colder areas, these are enclosed, heated structures restaurants set up on patios during winter, often with fun themes). Our friends were “supposed” to meet us, but they were conveniently running late, giving him the perfect window to pop the question. And he did—I was completely surprised! Our friends arrived shortly afterward, and we celebrated together.

But here’s the funny part. In my mind, I’d always pictured my engagement happening when everything was “just right.” Perfect nails, flawless hair, a fabulous outfit—you know, the kind of moment you see on social media. But life had other plans. That night, I couldn’t find anything to wear and ended up grabbing something older from my closet. My hair was being stubborn, and in frustration, I gave up and thought, Whatever, it’s good enough. My nails? Let’s just say they were several weeks past due for a touch-up.

When the moment came, none of that mattered. Not one bit. What mattered was the love and surprise of the moment and the overwhelming excitement of saying yes. It wasn’t picture-perfect, but it was absolutely perfect in every way that counted.

This got me thinking about teaching, because—let’s be honest—our days are full of surprises. A new student shows up unexpectedly. The fire alarm goes off in freezing temps because a curious kid decided to test it. Technology fails. A snow day pops up. A child loses a tooth at the worst possible moment. Surprises are everywhere in this profession, and just like my engagement, things rarely go exactly as planned.

The key is how we handle those surprises. Do we let them throw us off, or do we embrace the moment and find the joy, humor, or opportunity in the unexpected? When we lean into the chaos with a sense of flexibility and a little grace for ourselves and others, we find that things have a way of working out beautifully—even when they don’t look the way we imagined.

As we step into this new year, let’s remember: Perfection is overrated, but being present in the moment is everything. Whether it’s saying yes to an unexpected proposal or pivoting in the classroom when the Wi-Fi crashes, there’s beauty in embracing the surprises life throws our way.

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