As I sat at my desk, racing against an impending deadline, I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. The younger, more naive version of myself had planned this project with such confidence, completely underestimating the potential for interruptions and overestimating my ability to handle everything smoothly. Just as I was about to hit my stride, a flood of unexpected emails and urgent requests demanded my immediate attention. The pressure was mounting, and I felt helpless. But in the middle of this chaos, I learned some valuable lessons.
First off, I had to LET IT GO, BREATHE, and remain CALM. Seriously, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t make the traffic lights change faster or magically make the files appear. Taking a deep breath and staying calm was the only way to keep my sanity and handle the interruptions without completely losing it.
Next, I realized I needed to BE PATIENT. Healing from physical or emotional pain takes time, and so does dealing with a barrage of unexpected tasks. Rushing would only lead to mistakes and more stress. I had to remind myself that patience was key, even though it felt like the last thing I had time for.
I also had a bit of an epiphany: IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT ME. Sometimes, my behavior was like that of a toddler with a toy: if I was playing with it, it was mine; if someone else had it and I walked in, it was mine; if it was broken, it was theirs. This childlike possessiveness was making me feel unnecessarily entitled and self-centered. By seeing the bigger picture, I could understand that not everything revolved around my immediate needs.
Lastly, I had to TRUST GOD. I reminded myself that He knows and cares about my life. When my best-laid plans were interrupted, even in ways that seemed devastating, I had to believe that there was a greater purpose at work. Trusting that there was a bigger plan helped me find some peace amid the chaos.
In the end, despite my best efforts, I didn’t meet the deadline. I had to swallow my pride and gracefully ask for an extension. Surprisingly, this too was a learning moment—realizing that it’s okay to ask for help and to acknowledge our limitations.
By going through this experience, I didn’t just survive the interruptions—I grew from them. The younger version of me might not have anticipated these challenges, but she would be proud of how I’ve learned to handle them with a bit more grace and a lot more wisdom.
