Not Behind, Just On My Path

When it feels like you’re falling behind.

Lately, it feels like there's a race going on that I wasn’t even told about. 
And yet, somehow... I'm in it too.
I see people moving... courses, achievements, internships. And I cheer for them.
But deep down, I question myself.

Am I falling behind?

A few months back, first year of college ended. 
Three whole months of vacation stretched ahead of me.
I had plans... small ones.
Restyle my room.
Work on myself.
Learn something.
Get my drivers license.
Maybe land an internship.
I hunted like a starved predator. Reached out to every intimidating professor and their leads. Most left me on seen.
And that kind of stung.

Still, I kept on hunting, for anything. Even for a tiny opportunity. I wrote to institutions and even got actual replies, some looked pretty promising.

But just then, something came up... life threw a curveball.

Starting a course or anything new just didn’t seem possible anymore.
My plans were put on hold.
I told myself it was temporary.

But time slipped.
And somewhere along the way... I lost track of everything.

I slipped into binge-watching shows, playing silly games on my phone. Stopped looking. Just killing time. I forgot about internships and courses and let myself drift.

Until one day, I looked up... and saw everyone else had already moved ahead.

And suddenly, a wave hit me.
'I was wasting time. I'm missing out.'
So, I scrambled again. Dug through the internet again for something.
Eventually, I found a short paid course... not groundbreaking, but from a reputed place.
I signed up.
Told myself this counts.
That I’m still moving.
That I’m not behind.

But now, looking back... maybe I see it differently.

Maybe this break wasn’t meant for rushing.
It wasn’t about ticking off lists.
It was just time to pause, to reset, to breathe.

Not everyone moves at the same pace in a race.
Some sprint.
Some stroll.
Some pause and pick flowers on the way.

And maybe the ones who take their own time end up exactly where they’re meant to be.
Just right on time.

After all, the turtle didn’t lose for being slow.
It won for never quitting.