Don’t Touch It Yet

Light is quick. Development takes longer.

Did you know that light travels at approximately 186,000 miles per second?

In other words, light moves almost instantly. Much like our dreams or ideas that come to us in what feels like a quick thought.

I think that’s why so many of us become frustrated with development. We are comfortable with flashes. We are comfortable with inspiration, vision, excitement, and ideas that hit us immediately. But manifestation? Development? Clarity over time? That part tends to move much slower.

Recently, my daughter celebrated her 10th birthday, and one of the gifts she asked for was a Polaroid camera. At her party, I let her open the gift early so she could capture moments with her friends.Ironically, what stood out to me most wasn’t even the camera itself. It was watching all the kids react to it. They could not wait to take pictures. Every few minutes someone was posing, laughing, grabbing the camera, or asking to take another shot.

But almost immediately after the picture printed, they became frustrated with the waiting.

They kept asking:

“Is it ready yet?”

“Can I see it now?”

“Why is it taking so long?”

And I found myself repeating the same thing over and over again:

“Don’t touch it yet. Just wait.”

As I reflected on that moment, I realized how much life can feel the same way. At the beginning of this year, I had big ideas, clarity, excitement, vision, and this overwhelming feeling of “I can’t wait.” I think many of us walk into new seasons that way. We enter with expectation...energized and inspired by what we believe is possible. But what nobody really talks about is the space between the flash and the full development. The part where what you captured in your mind has not fully developed in reality yet.

The blurry stage.

The hazy stage.

The “I thought I would see more by now” stage.

As creators, leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries, we often lose sight of what we once saw not because the vision disappeared, but because it entered development. And development can feel uncomfortable because it does not always provide immediate clarity.

Light is quick. Development takes longer.

That doesn’t mean the picture is ruined. That doesn’t mean the idea was wrong. That doesn’t mean the spark disappeared. It may simply mean the image is still developing.

What also stood out to me at the party, is how many of the kids missed out on eating cake or enjoying other moments of the party because they stood there waiting for the photo to develop. An image they had no control over. They watched and stared while an entire party was still happening around them.

And I wonder how many of us are missing out on joy, connection, laughter, opportunities, or even rest because we have redirected all of our energy toward watching the picture develop.

Watching paint dry.

Waiting for clarity.

Obsessing over timelines.

Asking “when?”

Maybe it’s time to stop shaking the picture. Stop forcing answers. Stop questioning yourself every five minutes! (preaching to myself)

Some things only become clear when they are given time.

So today, I just want to encourage you to give yourself grace for the seasons of your life that feel less defined than you expected. Remember you are not failing. You are developing.

And maybe the worst thing you can do in a development stage is keep trying to touch the picture before it has had enough time to fully reveal itself.

So, while you’re waiting for the picture to develop, go have yourself a piece of cake.

Because development does not mean life has stopped.

Love & Light,

Ebony