StephanieDawn's Journal

Timing

Throughout all of our lives, we’re faced with difficult choices.  Choices that can affect others, sometimes even hurt them.  Avoiding it won’t solve the issue, only cause them more pain in the long run, so fighting back tears, and standing strong in our convictions, we make a decision. 

Life is about timing, you know? Some mornings we weave in and out of traffic to get to work on time.  Some people even create schedules, keep date books and set up reminders on their palm pilot to keep all these times organized. We’ve got planes to catch and doctor’s appointments at 2:15.  Heaven forbid we’re late!

So many things in life are all about timing.  Maybe not down to the hour or even a specific day, but instead a timing of how we feel.  “Am I ready for this?  Have I got what it takes to do this at this point in my life?” are questions I know that I ask myself when faced with decisions about my future.  If I answer no to either of the two, I have to make the choice to wait until I’m ready.

People are brought into our lives everyday.  You might say thanks to the gentleman who held the door for you, or you might lay eyes on someone for the very first time that you hope will be in your life forever.  You just never know.  The funny thing about life is that it ends.  Embrace great people when they walk into your life.  Get to know them, comfort them if they’re in need, learn from them if they’re wise, teach them if they need direction, follow them if they’re a great leader, lead them if you know the way, but don’t take people for granted.  Don’t take advantage, and don’t let them use you either.

We put up invisible lines to define who we are, and we back those lines up with words.  If someone crosses the line, and we tell them to back up, and they continue to overstep their bounds, there comes a time when we must stand our ground.  Unlike physical boundaries, emotional boundaries can’t be seen – only felt. 

At this point in my life, if someone is so lucky to find themselves inside my heart, they earned it.  I’ve been hurt in the past, and endured physical pain from my heart aching.  I’ve participated in, caused and enabled dysfunction, and I won’t do it ever again.  If I feel my boundaries being tested, and feel my heart being pushed without it naturally falling in sync, I will push back. 

Sometimes great people come in our lives, with great hearts, and great smiles, but they might not be at the same place we are.  Their idea of your ‘slow pace’ is our idea of moving too fast.  Maybe it’s not timing at all, but that they’re not a good match for you.  Maybe you’re better off friends.  We never know until we meet at that one place in time, and we try.   

Where are you at in your life?  Are you preparing yourself to make it to that 2:15 appointment?  Have you taken the time to work on you?  There is no fast lane in this thing called love.  I, for one, am committing to myself to work on me.  Funny how you think you’re doing fine and someone comes along, and helps you see that you haven’t healed completely, or taken the time to deal with issues that haunt you from so long ago. 

In life, we’re always going to be faced with decisions.  Everyone who we come in contact with was put there for a reason.  You may not understand what their purpose was until they are gone, but my faith in God tells me it was fate. 

Sometimes, we’ve got to choose ourselves over anything or anyone else.  Selfish as it may sound – that’s where we are at in our lives.  Respect other people to know that if it didn’t work, it was for the best.  Be glad they had the courage to step away before more time elapsed.  You never know.  They may have freed you up so that you will be ready when the right one does come along.