When you make plans with someone, you both commit to doing
something and being somewhere at a specific date and time.
This means that you both have blocked out time and had to
say “no” to other plans or invitations. Canceling plans,
especially last minute, can be very inconsiderate unless
there is an emergency or something out of our hands that
forces us to do this.

Having said that…Has there been a time when you were getting
ready for a meeting, an event, or even just to meet up with
friends and you received an email, phone call, or text cancelling
or postponing your plans and you were pleased? Probably so! Even
if we were looking forward to what we had scheduled, we may feel
relief—and even happiness—at the cancellation of these plans.

So the question is: why do we love cancelled plans?
It could be because we did not want to go through with them
in the first place. You may have said “Yes” to something you
didn’t have a real interest in, but you hated to say “No.” When this
type of plan is cancelled, it can certainly produce a feeling of relief.

Or maybe you cancelled because you accidentally double-booked
yourself, or had a last-minute invitation to something better.
But the number one reason is: You suddenly get a gift of time!
Time to do what you want. Time to not do anything. Time to waste! What a luxury
that is and for that we are typically grateful!