Microwave goals

I’m the product of tv dinners and microwave popcorn. And it affected more than my nutrition.

It lead to a now-mindset. Throughout my twenties whenever I thought of something, I wanted it then. The 90-second-cook time became a guiding principle. My patience was non-existent. And my follow through suffered.

The time and dedication to achieve a goal of consequence hadn’t been developed.

Rather than embrace the methodical unfolding of a goal, I wanted it then. Not at some elusive time in the future. It created a chronic habit of hurry up and then move on to the next. When A didn’t immediately lead to B I moved on.

Life rarely happens in linear paths. It’s messy, filled with alternate routes, roadblocks, and hard right turns. It demands constant movement rather than starting and stopping. When you set a course you have to realize the direction you’re heading may change a couple of times.

If only you could take that idea, press a time limit, and it be complete in a matter of minutes. But life doesn’t happen in a microwave.

Whether it’s an idea you want to see materialized. A relationship you want deepened, or anything else you want accomplished — things of consequence require time.

You gotta embrace the reality that the going will get tough and even get slow at times. Patience is rewarded. After all, wouldn’t you prefer a steak from the grill than the mystery meat from a microwave dinner?