That vision in my head of how I want a project to look versus how it’s coming out, that not quite finished look.
It can be frustrating trying to rush to an end when there is still “something” missing.
That pressure to finish a creation so you can list it and sell it, can seem unbearable at times, but maybe it just needs more time.
It Doesn’t Feel Finished Yet
Now I don’t struggle to start… I struggle with everything that happens around the finish.
I have a notebook of brainstorms and if I’m thinking of something in particular, I’ll start jotting, drawing, measuring, and researching.
I dive into the rabbit hole and get a pretty decent start when I begin. Usually surprising myself.
My stopping point is generally life; kids, family, other duties. So when I do stop, that flow is cut off and now the magic I had feels disconnected.
It’s not that I can’t finish… it’s that finishing it now would feel somehow forced. So I leave it alone for a while.
Sometimes the project will catch my eye and I step back thinking “what is it…” Maybe I will be able to add or adjust something small but it doesn’t “fix” it.
When this happens, I walk away from the piece. I leave it sitting on my workspace to come back to and sometimes that item will get finished in a week or a month… or years.
As I pass the pieces, half-finished and waiting, I feel frustrated… I’ve come to realize though that maybe it’s not missing something I need to find right now. Maybe it’s something that only shows up with time.
I’ve learned that “almost done” can be one of the most misleading places to stand.
The Part That Gets Frustrating
Even knowing now that something may take longer to complete doesn’t change the frustration to finish it.
For me, the slow waiting process that makes the time passing feel unbearable is not the only issue.
It is the frustration that creates a type of restlessness that is like a big cat walking a cage back and forth.
The more you try to add or fix or finish the piece, the more out of focus from your starting vision it gets.
I know for myself, I will hyperfocus until I finish a majority of something and then it will sit.
It will stay untouched until I’m ready to try to finalize the vision I had in the beginning.
Sometimes when I look at that piece, I’m also in awe that I made something like that.
Even when the process feels more difficult, the need to finish eventually takes over.
What I Started to Notice
I’ve noticed this pattern enough times now to stop brushing past it.
That space between “almost done” and “finished” isn’t empty… even when it feels like it is.
That unintentional pause becomes more time to play with my kids… watch tv… read more… rest…
The disconnection shifts into frustration and impatience, and then it softens, slowly.
Like a fog clearing and the vision comes back into focus.
Maybe that time wasn’t for missing something I had to find… but for something I had to give time to.
I’m still learning to let things take the time they need.
To step away when something doesn’t feel right, and trust that it will when it’s ready.
Not because I forced it there… but because I gave it the space to become what it was meant to be.
I’ve been noticing this in other areas of my life lately…
What’s something in your life that’s taking longer than you expected?
From my road to yours, happy wandering.
Want to share this with someone you care about?
Editor's Pick
Why Journeys Matter More Than Destinations
Explore why life’s journey matters more than the destination. A healing and creative growth story for anyone navigating their own path.
Continue Reading
Rebuilding Instead of Rushing
A reflective New Year pause about rebuilding instead of rushing, choosing courage, and stepping into the next season with intention.
Why We Need Seasons of Rest to Truly Grow
Spring brings a sense of urgency to grow, do, and catch up… but it also brings the rain. What if rest isn’t an interruption, but part of the rhythm that makes growth possible?
Tracking Small Wins, One Step at a Time
Celebrate small wins this January and beyond. A gentle reminder that small, intentional steps create real progress—plus a free Small Wins Tracker.
A Lesson That Took Me Years to Understand
A quiet reflection on a lesson that took years to understand, and how love doesn’t always look the way we expect in the moment. As Mother’s Day approaches, this piece explores growth, perspective, and the meaning we carry forward.
Join the Conversation
Have something to share?
Come join the conversation in the Wandering Texan Journal Community.
Leave a Reply