Changing Lanes

“Good evening Target guests, the time is now 9:45 and our store will be closing in 15 minutes. Please make your way to the front of the store along with your final purchases where a team member will be happy to assist you.” After hearing this oh so familiar announcement, I make my way down to the checkout lane while carrying the most random selection of items in my basket. I came to pick up workout shorts but left with a Billie Holliday CD, a box of Cheez-its and a decorative pitcher all while managing to lose the friends I came with.

As I was coming down the escalator I noticed that both of my friends were waiting for me on the other side of the checkout with their signature red & white shopping bags. Taking signs of their readiness to go, I scurried my little self down to what seemed to be the most convenient line. Being the impatient person that I am, I ditched the line after waiting for three minutes and headed to another which seemed to be moving at a steady pace. Even after debating with my friends about staying in line, I just knew this was a better and quicker way! Hmmmmm, OK. 10 minutes later after one woman’s card was declined and four managers came over to calm her down, I realized that my friends just may have been right. I looked to my left to see the third person that was behind me in the first line was now counting his 72 cents back in change and headed on his way. Ok…YES, they were right!

After marinating on the long wait I had to bare, I realized that I might be suffering from the same impatience in other areas of my life. As motivated, successful, creative women, we all have a great hunger to reach every life goal that we set for ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful trait. Now a not so attractive characteristic is that we may want it to happen quicker than we could handle it…in record speed! Dreams and success take time to come to fruition. Sometimes we feel as if something isn’t happening quick enough, decide it’s not going to work and bail out of that line of life.

I’m here just to remind you (and make this a note to self), that sometimes we have to wait a bit longer. Once the initial excitement has worn off as you begin your new life endeavor and before crossing the finish line, you have to hold on. Remember, there was a reason you were motivated to begin that new business, write your first novel, or take your first photography class in the first place. Keep pushing forward. As soon as you get impatient, give up and switch lanes, that is when you’ll miss the light at the end of the tunnel.

Miracles & Blessings,

Ellisa Oyewo