Finish Being Where You Are First. It Will All Make Sense Later

"Finish being where you are first. It will all make sense later." This quote right here rang so true in my heart when I read it in What a Time to Be Alone: The Slumflower's Guide to Why You Are Already Enough. That is what Chidera's father said to her when she was stressing herself sick in her last year of college. Not only was she worried about finishing, she didn't know exactly what she wanted to do and how long it will take her to find work post-graduation. She ended up failing the semester and not finishing school. Don't feel too bad for her though because now she's 24 years old with a best-seller, traveling and speaking all over the world. After reading that, I closed the book and I leaned my head against the cold train window. My mind sailed away to the countless times I've allowed worrying about the future be the thief of enjoying the present. 

Nothing humbled me like post-graduation. For the first time in my life, my straight A's meant nothing. There were many quiet days where the phone didn't ring and my e-mail was filled with Forever 21 promotions and messages from employers telling me they went with another candidate. Well, another candidate was one lucky b*tch because she was always getting chosen. Nothing made sense and nothing looked like it was changing. Stagnant isn't even the word. Things didn't shift until my focus switched from what I lacked, to appreciating what I do have to offer and cultivating those talents to the highest degree. 

The universe moves for those who refuse to quit. Now, as I write this from a desk at one of the biggest publishing companies in the country, I wish I would have taken advantage more of that down-time instead of believing the lie that nothing was happening for me. My mother always told me to walk by faith and not by sight. Believing good things will happen to you only if you can see them is walking by sight. Knowing you are destined for great things no matter how the circumstances look, is walking by faith. It's been my experience that Faith has been more accurate than my sight every single time. 

You've been running a small business and your clientele is mostly just family and friends and that's every so often. You've poured in time, money, and literally sweat and tears. Your mother sends you a couple memes and a link to a job on indeed every other day. Those around you don't understand what you're doing and sometimes you feel like you don't either. What you do know is that you're talented and passionate. That's why the road to success can be such a lonely place. Your friends and family love you and want what's best for you but they can't support you in the way you need them to because they're walking by sight. They are looking at what they see as possible. They don't fully understand your dream because it's not theirs to understand. 

You may not be where you want to be right now but take advantage of the moment. Enjoy the learning process, the time you're taking to perfect your craft and the people you meet along the way. Don't let the "struggle" you're experiencing now defeat your joy. To be honest, you think you're struggling but you're really building character. Your business did not have a bad day. It had a character building day. 

It only takes that one moment for your life to change. Whether you are noticed by the right people, or presented with the right opportunity. However it comes is none of your business. Just know you are going to get it. Once you're at the top, you're going to smile at the times you were just a baby-bird in your industry. You're going to be grateful for all those test because now here you are,  a testimony.