Hurry Up and Wait!

Full disclaimer: I am not a patient person. Patience has never been a virtue I’ve possessed. I am all of the stereotypes of a Northeasterner. I like things fast-paced, to the point and will gladly skip over pleasantries with others while I’m trying to get my coffee in the morning. Go to any Wawa in the Northeast on a weekday morning when it’s $1 coffee day and watch that line zip along!  I walk fast, talk fast, and don’t like wasting time. That’s how I was raised, that’s how I’m wired.

However, I am no longer living in the Northeast. My days no longer start with those frantic Wawa coffee stops, then racing into work to be the first one in the office every morning just because. Moving south forced me to accept a slower pace and that maybe it’s okay to chat for a minute while paying for your coffee. That being said, I am still a pretty impatient person. Starting a nonprofit organization was a new and different way to test my patience. There were several occasions of “hurry up, let’s submit this form and pay the processing fee immediately” followed by weeks (sometimes months) of waiting for a response.

It was frustrating, and often times very deflating, to feel like you’re jumping through hoops and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. There were rejections for reasons like “the copy is too blurry” or “they didn’t like the title of your organization being typed out in all capital letters.” We started the filing process in early March, and not having it all wrapped up by July felt like we were failing. Friends and family were great with their encouragement and reminding us how far we’ve come in a relatively short time, but my Northeastern impatience was omnipresent.

When those approvals finally started rolling in, it felt like huge wins. First, we got our Articles of Incorporation, which recognized us as a legitimate business in Virginia and allowed us to open a bank account. We were finally able to write a check to the school district with donations and proceeds from our Pickleball tournament in June. About a month later, we got the letter from the IRS recognizing us as a registered 501c3 and I felt like we had won some sort of award. We were absolutely thrilled and felt like doors were opening up for us. When we told some of our neighbors and acquaintances about getting these final approvals, their reaction is usually “Wow, that was fast!” and I would nod in agreement, while the Northeasterner inside me screamed.

For all we’ve done and accomplished, nothing has been more exciting than when we were finally able to present Hanover County our first donation. Jon and I attended their county-wide counselor meeting at the end of the August and addressed the counselors in attendance to let them know more about us and our mission. Handing them that check made it all feel real and the final validation I needed that we were doing what we were meant to do.

Ultimately, I feel like most of this comes down to my perception. I’m trying to learn to appreciate the journey. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are successful nonprofits. This process of founding Laaser’s Ladybug Society has been filled with learning experiences, coming out of my comfort zone, asking for help and being vulnerable. It’s been a crazy journey, but knowing that we’re pouring our heart and a soul into doing what we know is right makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks for your patience as we build. I can appreciate it, I just don’t have it!