“Spontaneity Is Where Possibility Lives.”

This week on WORDS MATTER, Deanna Ley, The Catalytic Coach, explores a different kind of adventure — the kind that begins with a simple “YES” and leads to possibility you didn’t see coming.

“Spontaneity is where possibility lives.”

In this episode, Deanna shares the story of a spur-of-the-moment purchase — a 1992 StarCraft Meteorite pop-up camper — and how it sparked a reflection on what healthy spontaneity really means. You’ll hear the difference between openness and recklessness, why overthinking can close doors, and how even small, life-giving adventures can reawaken your sense of wonder.

What Listeners Will Learn:
• How healthy spontaneity balances courage with wisdom
• The difference between being spontaneous and being irresponsible
• Why overthinking can turn possibility into missed opportunity
• Simple, everyday ways to invite more adventure into your life

Memorable Quotes:
• “Spontaneity is where possibility lives.” — Deanna Ley
• “Possibility doesn’t wait for a perfect plan.”
• “Healthy spontaneity is not denial dressed up as adventure. It’s courage paired with wisdom.”
• “Overthinking can make fear sound like practicality.”
• “You don’t need to know step ten to take step one.”
• “It’s not just about the adventure. It’s about saying YES to moments that will shape the story of your life.”
• “The best parts of our life are not always the ones we plan. They are the ones that we have the courage to step into.”

Your WORDS MATTER, because YOU MATTER.

Watch how our YES unfolds by following ADVENTURING MO at:
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https://www.youtube.com/@AdventuringMO
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Transcript

Well, hey there friends! Welcome back to another episode of WORDS MATTER. This... it's going to be a fun one. 

See, Chris and I did something super spontaneous this past weekend. It got me thinking about what healthy spontaneity really is. You know the kind. It opens doors, creates memories, and adds a spark to your life without leaving a trail of regret.

And that is where this quote that I thought of came from. 

"Spontaneity is where possibility lives". 

Now we live in a world that overplans, overthinks, and second guesses, don't we? We color code our calendars. We write pros and cons lists. We read reviews until our eyes blur. And we still feel like we're not ready. But possibility doesn't wait for a perfect plan. Sometimes you have to say YES before you have every detail worked out. Sometimes the open door won't stay open forever, and the only way through it is to stop analyzing and move.

This past Saturday, we said YES. We bought a 1992 StarCraft Meteorite pop-up camper — also known as a tent trailer in some parts of the world. Now it's not the sleek, already-renovated kind that you see in the Reels. This one needs work. Real work. A lot of work. But, when I saw it on Facebook Marketplace that morning, it checked every box. The catch? It was four and a half hours away. Now we had to trust that the seller was telling us the good, the bad, and the ugly. We had to believe that if we drove that far, there wouldn't be a showstopping surprise waiting for us.

And while there were a couple little surprises, they actually turned into a great negotiation tool that saved us $100 off the asking price. And that's part of saying YES in real life. Spontaneity often comes with a very little bit of predictability. And you learn to meet it right where it's at with clear eyes and a steady heart.

Now, if you want to follow the whole project as it's unfolding, we're sharing the entire journey as "Adventuring MO" on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. MO, M-O, stands for Mobile Oasis. And it's also a nod to Missouri, our home state. Adventuring MO is where you can see all the progress, the lessons, and the inevitable quirks that are sure to come along the way.

Thinking back, some of our best memories as a couple have been spontaneous ones. Finding a local farmer's market on a Saturday we had set aside for errands. Stumbling upon an apple orchard we didn't know existed. Saying YES to a last minute dinner out with friends that turned into hours of conversation and laughter. Taking a spur of the moment day trip to a nearby state park — a place that has now become my go-to spot when I want to get away from the hustle and bustle of my world.

And one of my favorite memories... it happened only a couple of weeks after we had started dating, so very long ago. It was a Sunday morning and Chris called me and asked, "What are you doing today?" I said, "Not much. What did you have in mind?" And he said, without even missing a beat, "How about we drive to Chicago?" Now it was December.

Chris had a little Ford Festiva. You remember those, don't you? But this one had no radio, no frills, just the most bare bones model you could buy. But it did have a heater. See, it was the kind of car that didn't promise comfort, but you could take it anywhere and it got great gas mileage. So we tossed a boombox in the backseat for music, brought along our favorite CDs and cassette tapes, and with nothing more than, I don't know, about 50 bucks, and a Shell credit card — and the whole day ahead of us — we decided to spend the one thing that we had in abundance back then. Time.

We pointed the car northwest and the windows fogged as we talked, and we laughed our way up the highway. Chicago met us with twinkling lights all along the Magnificent Mile. Store windows were dressed in holiday scenes. The air had that mix of wind and the magic that you only find in that city in December. We walked hand in hand, warmed our fingers around hot drinks, and soaked up every detail like we were gathering proof that the day was actually real.

And when night settled in, we climbed back into that little Festiva, turned the boombox back on, and drove back to St. Louis. And we were tired and for sure cold, but we were filled up in a way that no careful plan could have guaranteed. See, people sometimes say, "Oh, to be young and dumb again". But I don't see it that way. That one YES became a tradition.

Every December for years, we returned to Chicago — first by car and later by train. I think it's actually one of the reasons we chose to get married in December. Because that month already held so many of our best memories. See, spontaneity can do that. It can turn an ordinary day into a story you tell for years. It can become a thread that weaves through your life. But I want to name something that matters.

Because there's a big difference between being spontaneous and being irresponsible. Spontaneity is openness in action. It's a willing YES that listens to your gut and honors the context. It takes reality into account. It doesn't need every step mapped out, but it does ask a few honest questions. 

• What is true about my life right now? 
• What would a first step look like? 
• What responsibilities do I need to respect as I say YES?

Now, irresponsibility ignores all of those questions. It hopes consequences won't apply this time. It pretends the cost isn't real. Healthy spontaneity is not denial dressed up as adventure. It's courage paired with wisdom. Overthinking is the enemy of that kind of courage. Overthinking takes, "What if this works?" and turns it into "What if everything goes wrong?" It turns excitement into hesitation and hesitation into missed opportunity. It can make fear sound like practicality.

I've done it before. Maybe you have, too. You feel a spark and then you stall. You research and then you wait. You tell yourself you'll act when you have more information or more time. And then the moment passes. The door closes. The possibility slips away.

Now, the core of spontaneity is being open. Open to possibilities you didn't know you needed until they were right in front of you. Open to opportunities that might sit just outside your comfort zone. Open to different and out of the ordinary. Open to fun. Open to adventure. I believe we don't have enough adventure in our daily lives, friends.

I'm not talking about wild or reckless, but simple life-giving adventure. We get comfortable. We get predictable. And there's nothing wrong with stability. And there's a lot of good in steady routines. But when predictability hardens into autopilot our worlds shrink. The edges of our lives get dull. We forget that wonder lives close by when we're open to it.

Adventure doesn't require mountains or airplane tickets. It can be just as small as letting your curiosity change your route home. It can be trying a hobby you've thought about for years. It can be saying YES to an invitation you might normally turn down. It can be a pop-up camper that needs love and a little elbow grease. Because you can already picture the starry nights. And the early morning coffee. And the silly missteps that will become the best stories.

Now, if you want a simple filter for healthy spontaneity, try this. Check your gut. It's either tight and warning you, or it's bright and nudging you forward. Check reality. Name the costs, the time, and the energy. Then choose one next right step. You don't need to know step ten to take step one.

So here's my question for you. When was the last time you said YES without knowing exactly how it would work out? Not recklessly. Not carelessly. But with that mix of excitement and healthy uncertainty that tells you you're alive and growing. I want to invite you to look for spontaneous opportunity this week — and take it. Let it be simple. Let it be honest. Let it be yours.

If it's a YES that feels life-giving? GO! Here's what I've learned. Spontaneity isn't only about the thing you say YES to. It's about what opens after the YES. The memories you create. The confidence you build. The momentum you start. The life you get to live because you didn't wait until everything was figured out.

So let me say it one more time. "Spontaneity is where possibility lives". It's not just about the adventure. It's about saying YES to moments that will shape the story of your life. The things you'll remember when routine fades. The times you chose connections over convenience and curiosity over certainty.

If you wait until everything makes sense, friends, you'll miss the things that could have mattered most. Be open. Be willing. Take the trip. Buy the camper. Follow the nudge. Call the friend. Drive to the water just to watch the sunset. Try the class. Eat at the place that you've passed a hundred times but never stopped to try before.

Take the scenic route home just because you can. Pack a picnic lunch for no reason at all. Visit the museum you've been meaning to see for years. Say YES to the invitation that came up last minute. Camp in your backyard. Dance in your kitchen. And wander through a small town festival you just found out about. And sleep under the stars. And remember, my spontaneous adventurers, the best parts of our life are not always the ones we plan. They are the ones that we have the courage to step into.

Now, again, if you want to see how our latest YES unfolds, come hang out with us at Adventuring MO on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and we'll meet you there.

Friends, the words we see and read, the words we hear, and the words we say — to ourselves and about ourselves — about what we're doing and how we're doing it. They all matter.

Your WORDS MATTER, because YOU MATTER.

Have a great day.