That’s how stories begin. The protagonist thinks everything is on course—and then, bam! Life says, “Think again.” That is the function of plot. Something happens that forces your protagonist’s hand, leaving her no choice but to take action. And that, as it turns out, is a very good thing. Which is precisely the beauty of problems we can’t avoid: they force us to make the changes we’ve always wanted to but—okay, let’s be totally honest here—were too chicken to try.
