It’s the second month of the year and I woke up this morning certain of two things: I completed my YALI leadership program and I have to edit my manuscript before the 18th of this month.

I did laundry and I sat down to follow through on all the commitments I had made for this month, and as I was going through the list and sending emails and making phone calls, I felt like nothing was moving. I had written all these things that I needed to do and when I was following up on them, I felt stuck. I’ve often heard that “the best way to get things done is to do it yourself.” This was not my feeling three hours ago, because when systems and policies are involved, there’s always a sense of tasks being assigned to different people. However, people deliver differently.

So, there I was on my first cup of tea of the day wondering what to do next when a friend called and she said she missed me, but our conversation was the relief I needed. I told her about my frustration at receiving a response from an official and that it was slowing me down. She simply asked me “where are you running to? What’s the use of running when you’ll miss out on the all the details that you need to build this project?”

I switched off my phone after the conversation and started going through the list I had and in so doing, I discovered that everything I had written was dependent on one thing and it’s something I had received feedback on, late last year. Being the planner that I am, I crossed it out, and made another list factoring in communication I’d received last year and it’s earned me the result I needed.

What does it mean to trust in the process?

If you would have asked me this question last year, I would have answered “to sit back and watch,” but that’s not it.

Over the past few days, I have come to appreciate the fact that a process is a commitment and it takes time. To trust in it, is not only to look forward to attaining a result but to be continuously involved in getting that result. Writers do this when they start with an idea and each day build it up using words. It’s also hard to trust in the process when you feel stuck, or when it seems as though you are doing everything but not realizing something.

It’s in such a moment that I am learning to stop, take a step back, look at everything, appreciate how far I’ve come and embrace the need to get to where I want to be.

PS: Can I just say that it feels good to be back,😉, now let’s keep the posts coming.

Currently reading: The View from Flyover Country by Sarah Kendzior

Listening to: Camila by Camila Cabelo