Starting a big renovation is always exciting—the anticipation, the rush of progress, and imagining the end result make it all worth it. When we kicked off our project in early September, it felt like everything was happening so fast! Walls went up, new features started to take shape, and it felt like we’d be done in no time. But then mid-September came along with its own plot twist: the windows arrived…damaged. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a delay in re-ordering, meaning we had to wait even longer. They finally showed up this week, and we thought, Finally, time to put in those windows and close this project up! Cue the sigh of relief…only for us to find out they were the wrong size. UGH!
This little “detour” of a project was supposed to be done in time for us to host Thanksgiving. And while it’s not the end of the world, it is frustrating. But that frustration actually taught me something. When we focus on the “everything’s going to be fine” mindset, we sometimes skip over our real, in-the-moment feelings. Those feelings of frustration, disappointment, or even helplessness—they’re valid. Acknowledging them doesn’t mean we’re stuck in them, but it does mean we’re giving ourselves the space to feel and process before moving forward.
So whether it’s a delayed window or something bigger, let’s remember: it’s okay to feel frustrated! The key is not to let those feelings take over or dwell on things beyond our control. Feel them, let them have their moment, and when you’re ready, let them go.
And if you’re staring down a similar situation, here’s a little quote to keep in mind:
“Emotions are temporary visitors. Let them come, let them go, and keep moving forward.”
Let’s keep pushing through those unexpected obstacles—one delay, one mix-up at a time. And when Thanksgiving rolls around, let’s be grateful not just for finished projects but for the resilience we built along the way.