The City Doesn’t Wait

The first thing that grabs your attention in busy cities is neither the buildings nor the noise, it's the speed. Everything moves fast. People walk fast, cars honk impatiently, and even the weather seems to rush to change. It seemed clear, it was almost like the entire place was saying "get moving, or get left behind." I can remember standing on the side of the road one early morning watching people pass, and I noticed everyone seemed to have a direction, a reason, a plan, I, on the other hand was literally going nowhere that day, and I was still convinced I was already late for something.

It was obvious, the urgent energy around me felt loud, urgent, and honestly, a little bit overwhelming. It reminded me of a point in my life where I felt like I was stuck, but not because I wasn't doing anything. Because it felt like everyone else was doing everything. I could see other people around me making big moves. People were starting businesses, getting new jobs, buying houses, travelling, and I was still trying to figure out what I even wanted. I wouldn't say I was failing, but it was easy to feel like I was not moving forward fast enough.

That's when I began to understand something for myself: The city doesn't wait, and neither does life. But, that doesn't mean we need to live in a hurry. In this world of speed, it is easy to start measuring your own value by what you see others doing. But the truth is, everyone's path is different. Some people find their path early, while others take longer. Some people move fast, while others move slow, each one at their own pace.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is slow down, and listen - to your body, to your thoughts, to what is truly important to you. I learned some time ago, that just because you feel like you're in a hurry doesn't mean you are progressing. In fact, it can cloud your vision. You can miss those little wins, little lessons, and little moments that make you who you are. As I kept walking around the city that day, I made a choice to slow down.

I took my time. I noticed things that others would just pass by - children laughing and walking to school, a shopkeeper sweeping her front stall, a man making a call while he was waiting for a bus. There were a thousand things happening every corner, and I would not have noticed all of that, if I had been too busy "keeping up."The city doesn't wait. But that is okay. Because true growth doesn't always happen at swift pace.

Sometimes, growth happens with quiet steps, thoughtful pauses, and courageous decisions to go your own way, even if that path moves slower than others. So if you feel behind, let me assure you: you aren't. You are just on a different road, and that road is still valid. Let other people run, and let the city move. You don't need to keep their pace. Even in a world that never stops, you have permission to breathe, walk steadily, and trust your timing.