Embrace the Chaos

How to Turn Life's Mess Into Your Greatest Adventure

Life is a circus. And if there’s ever been a time to jump into the ring, it’s now. Forget waiting for the "perfect" moment to be the ringleader of your own show. Grab that top hat, raise your wand, and stop dodging flaming torches and knives. 

It’s time to stop pretending you’ve got it all together—because, let’s be honest, you don’t. And neither does anyone else.

Chaos isn’t going anywhere. It’s like your socks mysteriously disappearing in the dryer, midnight cupcake cravings, or that 3 a.m. interrogation you have with yourself—questioning every life choice while staring at your ceiling fan like it holds the answers.

But here’s the thing: the chaos is where the magic happens!

My first solo trip to Morocco taught me this lesson in the most chaotic way possible. I had dreamed of this adventure for years, imagining the freedom, the thrill of navigating a new culture, and—if I’m being honest—the sheer satisfaction of doing it all alone. 

What could go wrong, right?

Everything went smoothly, for a while. Until it didn’t.

I was practically floating toward the gate, high on anticipation, with the comforting thought of my own bed back in South Africa. Morocco had been the trip of a lifetime—a whirlwind of new experiences that had left me buzzing with excitement. 

But just as quickly as the excitement had built, it all came crashing down.

“Your flight has been canceled.”

Those words didn’t quite land at first. It was like a punch in the belly that never really connected. At least, not immediately. 

But when the realization hit, it did so with all the subtlety of an ice bath down my spine. Canceled? My flight? What was I supposed to do now?

I felt the world slow down, my hands clammy, heart pounding in my chest. The airport felt like it was spinning. People around me were moving in slow motion—faces twisted in confusion, frustration, and the kind of helplessness that comes from being stuck in an unexpected situation. 

But no one seemed as panicked as I was. I wanted to scream, to shake someone, and make them fix it. But instead, I froze. I felt small, utterly powerless.

And then, the tears came. The kind that don’t ask for permission—the ugly kind where your face contorts, your eyes flood, and you look like an emotional wreck. It wasn’t dignified. It wasn’t pretty. It was a mess.

I collapsed into an empty seat, vision blurred by the tears. I must’ve looked like a lost puppy mixed with a panic button, but in that moment, that’s exactly what I was. My body shook, my chest heaving with sobs I couldn’t control. I was alone. I was lost. And in that chaos, the future felt as uncertain as the language around me.

But then, through the noise and the fog, a voice reached me. A stranger, speaking softly, with kindness that cut through the panic. He didn’t speak much English, and my French was nonexistent, but through broken sentences and tear-streaked cheeks, we figured it out: reroute through France.

And just like that, the chaos didn’t stop. It shifted. I was still lost, but now, I was lost somewhere completely new.

Staring at the flight info board, my heart raced. France? I had never been there before, and here I was, flying there in the most absurd way possible. 

It felt like life had flipped everything upside down and told me, “Take the detour. You’ll be better for it.”

As I stepped off the plane in Paris, the dizzying airport sprawl overwhelmed me. My legs felt like jelly. 

My mind was a fog!

I didn’t speak French!

I didn’t have plans!

I was mentally and physically wiped, but I never felt so alive!

I didn’t know where I was going or how I would get there, but suddenly, it didn’t matter. It was like being thrown into an improv show where the script didn’t exist, but somehow I was figuring it out one step at a time. 

The chaos, which had initially felt like an enemy, was now an unexpected companion in my adventure.

In that moment, I realized something important: life doesn’t come with a manual. But sometimes, in the mess, you find something bigger than you imagined—a new side of yourself that thrives in chaos.

But let’s get real here: not all chaos is created equal.

There’s the chaos that propels you forward—the kind that makes your heart race, fills you with fire, and pushes you to grow. And then there’s the chaos that drags you under, leaving you gasping for air and desperate for a way out.

Bad Chaos is the kind that keeps you stuck. It’s like the toxic ex you know is bad for you, but somehow, you find yourself slipping back into the same old, unhealthy patterns. It’s seductive because it’s predictable. It’s the reality TV of your life—the messy, dramatic trainwreck you can’t look away from, even when it’s making you miserable.

I’ve been there. I gave my ex another chance, even though I knew deep down it was a mistake. I told myself things would be different, that maybe, just maybe, he’d changed.

Spoiler alert: he hadn’t.

Bad chaos looks like:

• Saying “yes” to everything—even when your heart says “no.”
• Piling up your to-do list until it feels like Mt. Everest and coping by scrolling mindlessly through social media.
• Filling your schedule with obligations that drain you, while neglecting the things that actually bring you joy.
• Letting distractions like food, shopping, or social media numb the overwhelm, only to wake up with empty bags and a growing sense of regret.

I chased bad chaos, thinking it was comfortable. But it only left me exhausted, stuck, and worse off than before.

Good Chaos is a whole different beast. It’s the chaos that makes you feel alive!

It challenges you. 

It opens doors you didn’t know were there. 

It doesn’t leave you breathless with dread. Instead, it fills you with a buzzing excitement, a dash of fear, and the certainty that you’re on the verge of something big.

That’s what happened when I found myself rerouted through France. It was terrifying and uncertain, but it felt right. 

It felt like the universe was saying, “You didn’t plan for this. But it’s exactly what you need.”

Good chaos looks like:

• Booking a solo trip to a place that scares you—and realizing that fear is exactly what makes it worth it.
• Saying “no” to things and people who drain you—even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Leaping before you feel ready, because sometimes the best opportunities come when you step into the unknown.
• Finding laughter in the chaos, even when everything feels like it’s spinning out of control.
• Choosing something that excites and terrifies you, because that’s where the magic happens.

Good chaos is the road less traveled. It’s messy, exhilarating, and, yes, terrifying at times—but it leads to more. More growth. More joy. More of the person you’re meant to be.

How to Choose the Right Chaos

The key to embracing chaos is knowing which one to say “yes” to—and which one to let go of. So, how do you choose?

Here’s what I’ve learned: Bad chaos makes you smaller. It keeps you trapped in cycles of procrastination, avoidance, and self-doubt. It feels comfortable, but it doesn’t help you grow.

Good chaos, on the other hand, pushes you forward. It challenges you. It forces you to step outside your comfort zone and realize that sometimes, the mess is where your greatest adventures begin.

Ask yourself:

• Will this help me grow, or am I avoiding something uncomfortable? If it’s avoidance, congratulations—you’ve just identified bad chaos.
• Am I scared because it’s wrong or because it’s new? Trust your gut when it says “no” to bad chaos. But lean into the fear of good chaos—it’s the kind of fear that leads to something bigger than you imagined.
• Will this make a great story later? If you’re laughing about it later, it was probably good chaos.

Final Thoughts: If Life’s Going to Be Messy, Make It Worthwhile

Life is chaotic. There’s no way around it. But here’s the truth: it’s not about avoiding the mess. It’s about curating it. Choosing the chaos that challenges you, that helps you grow, and that leads to your greatest adventure.

So, the next time life throws chaos your way, embrace it. Don’t just survive it—find the magic in it. Because sometimes, in the mess, that’s where the best story begins.

And if all else fails? At least you’ll have one hell of a story to tell.