Do you ever feel like you’re racing against an invisible clock? Like if you don’t get this task done right now, some non-existent timer will go off and something bad will happen?
I’ve always been the type of person who wants to get things done as soon as I can. I’ll come up with a project and just do it. I don’t like waiting for other people to help, even if it’s something that would be so much more easily accomplished with another person.
When I graduated college, I lived with my parents for about 3 months before I found my own place. When I moved in with them, though, I had to share a room. I knew they’d been thinking about building another room, so instead of waiting for my dad—who has way more construction experience than I do—to have some time and availability to help me build it, I built it myself. I spent about two weeks buying lumber, measuring and cutting it, building a frame, putting up insulation and drywall, and painting, all while working as a server full time. I’d never built anything before, let alone a whole room, but I just didn’t want to wait for anyone else.
I can’t even count the number of projects like this that I’ve done without waiting for someone to help. Instead of the minor inconvenience of waiting to do something that doesn’t need to be done now, I choose the much bigger inconvenience of trying to do something by myself that clearly requires more than one person.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working on being more patient. In a lot of ways, I’ve improved. I don’t get as annoyed by traffic. I don’t feel the need to get somewhere as fast as possible. I don’t have to go do something as soon as I think of it. I can take breaks from projects. This week, though, I’m moving into a new apartment, and I’ve noticed myself getting back into my old habits of feeling the need to get everything done as quickly as possible.
As I’m writing this blog, I’m using it as a reason to slow down and remind myself that everything will get done. It does not need to happen right now, or even today. I will have time to finish moving in before my previous lease is up, and everything will be okay.
It’s okay to take a break and relax for a moment. Be patient, everything will come together.
As always, stay safe and stay healthy.
Xo,
Kayla W.