You Are Not Behind: Letting Go of the Timeline
You’re not behind. You’re just growing on your own schedule.
The idea for this blog post came to me while I was looking at the azalea in my garden, feeling like every year it was blooming later and later.
For the longest time, I carried this quiet weight—the feeling that I was somehow late. That I should have figured things out by now. That my career should be further along. That my business should be growing faster. That everyone else seemed to be thriving while I was still trying to find my footing.
It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It showed up in small moments—scrolling past someone’s career milestone on social media, seeing a fellow small business owner announce a big win, comparing my pace to theirs. Even in the plant world, I’d catch myself feeling behind if I hadn’t propagated anything new in a while or if my monstera wasn’t unfurling leaves like it used to.
But over time—and honestly, through the slow, steady rhythm of working with plants—I started to see things differently.
Growth doesn’t follow a straight line.
And it certainly doesn’t follow a universal timeline.
It took me a while to find a career path I truly enjoyed. I tried different things. Some didn’t stick. Some taught me what I didn’t want. And that detour-filled path is what eventually led me to Theory Beyond Design. Even then, I had to work through the pressure of feeling like my business should be bigger, more polished, more something by now.
But plants don’t rush. They don’t bloom out of pressure.
They grow when the conditions are right.
So do we.
Some plants lie dormant for seasons. Some take years before they flower. Some grow roots for a long, long time before you ever see new leaves. And just like that, I began to understand that slow growth is still growth. Hidden growth is still real. It’s often the most important kind.
We live in a culture obsessed with speed and output—where “success” is tied to quick wins and visible milestones. But what if our timelines are meant to be different? What if where you are right now is exactly where you’re supposed to be?
You are not behind.
You are not failing. You are building something beautiful, piece by piece.
When I finally let go of the pressure to “catch up,” I started to enjoy the process more. I noticed the little wins. I felt proud of the shifts I was making. I learned to define progress on my own terms—not someone else’s timeline.
So if you’ve ever felt like you’re behind in life, in your career, in your business, in plant care, in growth of any kind—I see you.
And I’m here to remind you:
You’re not behind. You’re just growing.
What's Next?
A mini propagation wall could be perfect for you.