Persistence

Persistence...

On the hottest Saturday in July I drove around Newport Beach, trying to follow my navigation app through the traffic to a parking lot for the beach. It was crowded and I hate driving in places  I don't know, with lots of traffic and lets add to that I had two little girls in the back seat that wanted nothing more than to go to the beach. 

Left on my own I would not venture out to the beach. Probably like, ever. And never to a beach I don't know, but...we had family that was going to be at that beach celebrating a birthday. So... there we were. At a stop light I turned around and prepared my girls for the very real possibility that we weren't going to get to go to the beach that day. 

But...I didn't want to be that mom. There had to be parking. So i went back to the first parking lot my navigation app had recommended and even though it said full I went in and drove around. I let my mom and the girls out so they could join their cousins. And I drove. I figured, even if I spent an hour circling, that's an hour the girls had a the beach. It wasn't about me. It was about the experience for them. Sure I wanted to go watch them enjoy it, but I was happy to make the small sacrifice for them.  

Well that hour came...and went. At an hour and 20 minutes of circling the parking lot I texted my mom and told her to prep the girl to leave in the next 10 minutes. I was going to call it quites. And then a parking spot opened up just a few cars in front of me and i was the only one around to take it. 

We stayed another 4 hours. And my oldest and I had a spirited debate in which I declared that sand is just beach dirt. And I stand by that evaluation. 

If Life was a Dream and it was my dream... my mom did say this would wind up in a blog. And this is a reminder that persistence pays off.

Life happens at it's own speed. Careers happen at their own speed. Sometimes you have to circle the parking lot for what feels like forever. Sometimes you might have to ask your mom to drive the car for a lap so you can use the gross beach bathroom. It's all part of the journey and if you are persistent it will pay off. And if you keep a positive attitude about it, when you finally get to park and get to the beach you will be able to enjoy it. Beach dirt and all.