Much like the questions I pose at the end of each episode, this week's episodes are for reflection,

and reflection by definition is to give serious thought or consideration. Every day this week,

you will hear moments from previous episodes that I hope help you to find space and time throughout your day for positive

thoughts as we reflect together. And now on to today's episode. Having to wait does not make you a failure. You are still going to get where you are meant to be

when you are meant to be there. Now, getting where you are meant to be when you're meant to be there

may sound comforting, but at the same time, it can also be a difficult reality to live with. Because even though

meant to be means that things could come together in a beautiful, unexpected way, it also means that

there might be a prolonged unexpected weight. It also means you might have to see people younger than you reach certain milestones before you.

You might have to watch people who seem undeserving or ungrateful be given the very things that you've been longing for.

You might end up finding out that the relationship you thought was

forever just wasn't meant to be. It takes bravery to accept the truth of meant to be. It takes courage to

believe that all things work together. But the thing is, it's okay if you're wrestling

with this. It's okay if you're still grieving the reality of a missed opportunity or a broken

connection that seemed promising to you. You were not in the wrong for having hoped for better

results. You are not immature or naive for having hoped for better results. You are not immature or naive for having

dreamed of accomplishing certain things by this point in your life. And you are certainly not a

failure for having to wait, circle back, slow down, or reconsider. Even if you are currently traveling through the biggest setback of your

life, meant to be can still be a beautiful reality to look forward to. Just because certain hopes have

been crushed, that does not mean that other hopes cannot come to life. There may have been

certain plants in the garden that did not grow the way you were wanting them to, but that does not

mean other plants will not bloom. Perhaps you tried to plant a row of gardenia bushes, and to your

dismay, they did not bloom according to the plan.

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