The Waiting Place

"...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting."

**The Places You'll Go, Dr. Seuss


I feel like I'm in the Waiting Place right about now - waiting for things to happen so that I can react to them. Waiting for a new career opportunity. Waiting to figure out what it is exactly that I want to be doing right now. Waiting to decide whether or not to go back to school. Waiting for the kids to get older. Waiting until we have more money. Waiting to find the courage to take the risk(s).

Never been a mover or a shaker, but it feels like I haven't been doing much of anything lately except maybe treading water. Going nowhere. Not that I haven't got ideas about what I think I want; I've just been too scared to take action for fear of failure. So I choose to remain stagnant - to wait for what sign or words I don't know - which is an action of sorts, I suppose, but a passive one at best.

Yet, I'm not sad or angry about my indecision. I see the opportunity in it all. I see that there are challenges ahead and all I need do is stand up and take them head on. I see the need to call my own shots because no one else is looking out for me, but me. No one else can make this happen. If I want to leave the Waiting Place I have to open the door myself and walk through to the other side - alone.

I'm not sure what's on the other side of that door. It's certainly been easier up to now to wait for those opportunities to just show up, but I think I've had enough of all the waiting. Kind of boring. Kind of frustrating in that I have very little control when I just wait.

Do you ever get stuck in the waiting place?
Once I make it out, I promise to leave the door cracked for you :)