Every Road has Bumps (Even Ones Paved in Rhinestones)

   I’ve been known to be a procrastinator. I remember during my freshman year of college calling my mom up in mid tears on the Sunday night before finals. I had this 100 page art history portfolio that was due on my professor’s desk Monday morning, and I had not even touched that thing. It was assigned on the literal first day of class, and I was supposed to have been working on it all semester…but I hadn’t. After a lecture from my mom and some laughing/crying hysterics, I got it done. All 100 pages flew hot off the printer the next morning and the relief just poured out of me. Usually this is how my periods of procrastination go. It’s not a fun process, but it’s an effective one.  
   Last month though, I decided to use that process in competing for a local title, and it didn’t quite work out the same. I chose to compete in the very last pageant of the year. I hadn’t planned to compete at all this year as I was in the process of transferring schools and finding a job and a place to live, but I wanted something to make me happy, and I knew that competing did that for me. Unfortunately though, it didn’t quite work out the way I planned.
   I did not place that weekend. That was a first for me, and it was hard to accept. After a month of reflection and pursuits of other outlets for happiness, I’ve come to terms with my loss and the lessons that came with it, and I’m proud of what I did. There’s bumps in every road...even ones paved in rhinestones.

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