You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re exactly where you need to be. A reflection on the power of “yet” and trusting your unfolding journey.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “yet.”
As in: “I’m not there yet.”
We use it apologetically, don’t we? As if being in the middle of our journey is something to excuse. As if the space between where we are and where we want to be is a gap that diminishes our worth.
But what if “yet” is actually the most hopeful word we have?
When you say, “I’m not there yet,” what you’re really saying is: I’m still becoming.
You’re acknowledging that your story isn’t finished. That there’s more ahead. That the best chapters might still be unwritten.
“Yet” means you haven’t given up. “Yet” means you’re still in motion. “Yet” means possibility is still alive.
Your story isn’t finished.
Your best work might still be ahead of you.
The person you’re becoming is still taking shape.
And that “yet”? That’s not a deficit. That’s a promise.
You’re not there yet.
And that means you’re still becoming.
Keep going.
💛 Stacy
I’m Curious: What’s something you’re not “there yet” on—but you’re trusting will unfold in its own time? I’d love to hear. Leave a comment below, then follow me on Facebook or Instagram for more frequent connection and inspiration. Let’s remind each other: We’re all still becoming.
Decide this week to live and love with abandon, celebrate the good around you, and embrace challenges as opportunities to strengthen your ability to walk in the truth and beauty of who you are.
Everyone can’t or won’t understand your journey or your heart, and only you can script an accurate version of your story.
Hold the pen to your life and do just that, with compassion, grace and joy.
“A (person’s) judgment of another depends more on the one judging and on that person’s passions, than on the one being judged and on his/ her conduct.” (Paul Tournier)
Exude light and love no matter what, and the overflow can’t help but bless others.
While traveling to Guatemala City for a work-related trip about six weeks ago, I almost turned back.
An expected five-hour layover in my connecting airport on my travel day in early July turned into an additional 11-hour flight delay. This meant I spent 16 hours roaming the airport (before the airline eventually cancelled the flight altogether, just after midnight).
Amid the waiting to see when the flight would leave came news that a fairly significant earthquake had rumbled through the country 24 hours earlier.
While my colleagues who are based in Guatemala were moving forward with business as usual (small earthquakes are the norm; this bigger 5.7 magnitude one didn’t rattle them), I was wondering whether the delays and the shaking earth were signs to reschedule the trip.
Just as I had that thought, a team member who was traveling separately to meet us there let me know she had boarded her flight. When I asked her if the doors had closed and her “yes” meant she couldn’t quickly deplane, I took that as a sign that we were all meant to trust our faith (so grateful for the prayers that were surrounding us!) and our Guatemalan colleagues’ assurances that all would be fine.
I decided on a Plan B for a quick departure if necessary, and we moved forward.
Within an hour of landing the next day and meeting our calm-natured colleague “A,” and being escorted to our hotel in the heart of Guatemala City, I knew we’d be okay.
A few days later, when we reached the beautiful city of Antigua and were greeted with gorgeous views of the mountains and a “behaving” live volcano, and warm-hearted people that included other wonderful colleagues, my U.S.-based team and I nodded at each other: Pushing through the delays, the uncomfortable unknowns of what awaited us, and keeping our storytelling mission top of mind had paid off.
The gift of these views and the meaningful connections made, even before our formal work began, had stretched us.
We grew individually, bonded as a team, and grounded ourselves in the mantra our organization’s leader often utters: We can do hard things well.
The overarching reminder for me as a person of faith? God really does have His hand on us at every turn, and even in stressful times, His presence is evident, if we’ll look for and recognize the signs.
The overarching lesson/reminder for my team and me?
When you persist through whatever challenges you may encounter, there are often rewards beyond measure on the other side of your yes.
We’ll never forget the beauty of the people, nor the place, nor the power that comes from the PUSH (Persisting Until Something Happens). I believe each of us is better because of it.
This week, consider this assertion: There’s so much waiting for you on the other side of fear, loss or setbacks.
Don’t you see it over there – waving at you? Beckoning you? Smiling at you?
All you need are your boots for walking, curiosity and courage to enjoy the journey, and your authentic willingness to fully experience what’s calling.
Now, I know that’s much easier said than done – I’ve been there!
Yet, what I also can assert is that as you start telling yourself the right story, and believing it, you can also start doing those things (or stop doing those things) that will help you achieve what you are longing for.
Give yourself a chance. You are without a doubt worth it.
Start (again) today and keep becoming. That’s the best way to win at being you.
They help you better understand yourself and others, and they help you make sense of the world in which we live.
Before this week ends, why not commit to reading some short fiction or a novel over the course of this month? Or pick up a memoir; perhaps a biography.
Read to laugh, weep, learn or grow.
Read to gain context, read to know.
Whether you choose some of my work or that of some of my fellow authors, enjoy, immerse yourself and reap the benefits of immersing yourself in stories, long after you’ve reached The End.
Still Unfolding with Stacy Hawkins Adams 