Everyone handles spontaneity differently. Whether it’s choosing where to go on family vacation months in advance or traveling through a foreign country without knowing where you are going next, some level of impulse exists in all our lives.

Spontaneity is the ability to act on impulse and is defined as: proceeding from native feeling or natural tendency without external constraint.

Traveling through France with my family was an experience that strays from the typical family vacation that comes to mind. Each night was filled with escapades and adventures; our next destination and living accommodation was left to our imagination and what we could find on Airbnb or TripAdvisor.

Our society favors predictability, hence why being spontaneous is a unique quality.

Hallmark movies and romance displayed in media praise the idea of a partner being spontaneous and fun. A surprise dinner date, jukebox in the rain, promposal, or bouquets of flowers all contribute to appeal of a spur-of-the-moment personality.

Because of the lack of impulse in our culture, its appearance in media is an irregular occurrence making it more interesting.

However, just because something is praised in the media, doesn’t mean it is adopted in our lives.

A well-structured and efficiently planned life is obsessed over in the culture we experience. Planning, or overplanning, provides a sense of control.

Whether the uncertainty we feel stems from financial instability, relationship insecurity, or general fear of the unknown, planning and structure can be an efficient solution to the pressure.

To not have a thought-out plan is seen as a sign of irresponsibility and immaturity, when in actuality, being spontaneous relieves social pressures and provides a release from life’s over-thought obstacles.

Being impulsive isn’t something we can all relate to; different personality types handle the stress of planning and scheduling differently.

Spontaneity, while encouraging open-mindedness and breaking monotonous routines, also brings excitement to day-to-day life.

When going to watch a friend’s sports tournament, you wouldn’t expect to be asked to join the game if players are injured, but if you are needed in the given circumstance, why not?

The general question I think about as I navigate my life is, why not?

When one poses the rebuttal, “why?” I take pride in the lifestyle I live life by.

If nothing else, I encourage the people around me to step out of their comfort zone and experiment with impulses and spontaneous experiences.