[STORY] Sometimes, life delays you just so you can catch up with yourself

Four weeks ago, I missed my bus to work.

That single moment — the bus doors sliding shut right in front of me — was supposed to ruin my day.

I was running late, sweating, and annoyed at myself for snoozing the alarm again. But that morning, without knowing it, I was about to learn one of the biggest lessons in self-discipline, time management, and personal growth.

I remember standing at the terminal, panting, watching the bus disappear into the morning fog like a scene from a slow-motion movie. My earpods were dead, my shirt slightly crumpled, and my phone battery already blinking red — 10%.

I muttered to myself, “Great. Another unproductive day.”

Then, an older woman sitting on a nearby bench chuckled.

“Young man,” she said, smiling, “maybe missing that bus was part of your morning blessing.”

I forced a polite grin. “A blessing? I’m late for work.”

She shrugged. “Sometimes, life delays you just so you can catch up with yourself.”

That line stuck with me.

With no transport in sight, I decided to walk to the next junction — about 25 minutes away. At first, it felt like punishment. But then, something strange happened.

For the first time in months, I noticed things.

The smell of freshly baked bread from the corner bakery.

The sound of hawkers shouting “Agege bread, hot one!”

Even the way the morning sun bounced off the rooftops.

I pulled out my phone and opened the Notes app — something I hadn’t used in ages except for grocery lists.

I typed:

“Maybe I need to stop rushing and start living.”

That small thought became a spark.

By the time I reached the next bus stop, I wasn’t angry anymore. I was… awake. I realized how much of my life had become mechanical — wake up, scroll social media, rush, complain, repeat.

So I decided to experiment. A full reset.

That night, I wrote out a simple self-improvement plan:

• Wake up at 6 a.m. (no snoozing)
• Journal for 10 minutes
• Meditate or stretch for 5
• Plan my day using the Eisenhower Matrix (yes, the one that prioritizes tasks)
• End each day with gratitude

I didn’t post about it online. I just wanted to be accountable to myself.

Fast forward a week.

I felt different — more focused, calmer, and weirdly happier. I started managing my time better. I learned to say “no” without guilt. I started tracking my daily habits using Notion.

Even my boss noticed.

“Whatever you’re doing lately,” she said during our Monday meeting, “keep it up. Your productivity has doubled.”

I smiled. “Just catching up with myself, ma.”

But here’s the twist.

Last Friday, I saw that same old woman again — same bench, same calm smile. I rushed over, eager to thank her.

But when I got closer, a security guard stopped me.

“Madam Grace?” he asked, confused. “She passed away last month.”

I froze. “What?”

He nodded slowly. “She used to sit here every morning, giving advice to anyone who looked lost. Said she liked watching the sunrise.”

I looked down at the bench — her scarf was still there, neatly folded.

For a few seconds, I just stood there, wind in my face, heart pounding.

Then, without thinking, I whispered, “Thank you.”

That day, I made a new promise to myself — to live slower but better.

To stop chasing every “next big thing” and start appreciating the small, grounding moments that make life meaningful.

If you’re reading this, maybe this is your sign too.

You don’t need a perfect morning routine or a fancy productivity app.

You just need to pause long enough to hear yourself think.