Are We There Yet?

A surprising lesson on the journey of self-improvement

I remember when I was younger, maybe 7 or 8 years old. My parents loaded my three siblings and me into our family car and we began our 18-hour road trip to Orlando, Florida. We were headed to Disney World! We began the drive around 4 o’clock in the morning – my parents enjoyed the quietness of the beginning of the ride.

Eventually we woke up and needed breakfast and entertainment. After a few snacks and a restroom break, we were all wondering, “Are we there yet!?”  We were more than eager to reach our destination.

Sometimes, life is like a road trip. Young adulthood can be challenging. I know that I am headed in the right direction. I have a pretty exciting job, great friends, a moderately entertaining social life, and an irreplaceable family. Despite my successes, I find myself wondering “Am I there yet!?”. You know, there? Where my 8-year old self thought I would be by my mid-twenties. I envisioned myself with a secondary degree, living the high-life, driving a Lexus and being the boss of whatever company I was at.

“Almost there”, my mom would always say. She certainly wasn’t going to reveal that we had 12 more hours ahead of us. She would try to distract us by giving us games to engage with our surroundings. “Count the cows!” She would yell as we drove past an open field. Sure enough we all began counting aloud, “One, two, three …” Eventually the numbers blurred together because we wanted to make sure we accounted for all of the cows before we passed the field.

“Almost there”, I remind myself as I pay my rent, student loans, car note, electric bill, etc… I’m practicing adjusting my attitude during these moments. I used to dread paying bills. Now, I practice having a thankful heart. I am grateful that I have the means to keep every financial promise that I have made.

“Almost there”, I tell myself as I walk out of my place of employment after another day that has made me feel like a hamster on a never ending wheel. After navigating my way through the cross-hairs of the ever present passive-aggressive communication and dealing with one or two condescending associates, I mull over the events of the day and ask myself – what did you learn?

I know that I have not reached my destination, but I do my best to engage with my surroundings on my journey. I want to gather all of the information that comes with the challenges of young adulthood. I know that with every tight pay period comes a lesson in fiscal responsibility. With every seemingly unfulfilling day on the job comes a lesson in relationship management. And while I am nowhere near where my 8-year old self dreamed of being in her mid-twenties. I am here and I am growing. I am almost there.

Maybe you’re going through a challenge and it seems like you’re nowhere near “the end”. Take the time to flip your challenge on its head and ask yourself what your situation is teaching you. Remind yourself that although you might not be exactly where you want to be, you are well on your way to inevitable growth and a refreshed outlook on life. You’re almost there.