On my birthday, I appended to a long list of life lessons. The new lesson I shared: things take the time they take. Projects you think you’d tackle quickly? That important deadline? Things you’d think you’d have sorted out by now? Things take the time they take.

In that spirit, over the weekend I finally finished an artwork on a 5’x4’ canvas that I started ~13 years ago.

I’ve been reflecting on all that’s transpired between the time I started painting this canvas until I finished it this weekend. I’ve loaded this canvas into 4 U-Haul trucks, I’ve experienced some high highs and some low lows, I allowed myself to call myself an artist, I had a daughter…

In fact, it was Ella that pointed to the ~15% complete canvas hanging in my office and said “Dad, why isn’t this painting done?” I immediately grabbed an oil Sharpie and drew a blocky ELLA:

The remaining 85% suddenly found itself complete in a few months’ time.

Just acknowledge that fact, and notice when you find yourself feeling frustrated, guilty, ashamed, or like giving up because you're not seeing immediate results in your work, your life, your relationships, and your endeavors. Things take the time they take.

I could fill you in on all of the other exciting things taking shape right now, but we’ll save that for another day. Things take the time they take.