How Close Are You Before You Give Up?

March 24, 2026

This past weekend, we were heading home from an event when we got stuck in traffic on the highway due to construction.

For about 45 minutes, we barely moved.

It was late. The kids had fallen asleep in the back. My husband was driving, and we were both tired, ready to get home.

As we slowly inched forward, we reached a break in the highway, a partition meant only for emergency vehicles. We were in the left lane since the right lane was closed.

Then it happened.

A car two vehicles ahead of us suddenly turned into the partition and crossed over to the other side of the highway, heading back in the direction it came from.

I looked at my husband and said,“We don’t have that option. Our home is ahead. We can’t turn around.”

And almost as soon as I said it, the car in front of us followed.

When Delay Makes Us Doubt

That moment brought up so many thoughts.

We had already been in traffic for a long time. The construction signs told us the delays would run from Exit 16 to Exit 18. We had already passed Exit 17.

Which meant we were close.

It was only a matter of time.

Yet those drivers chose to turn around — illegally — after already coming so far.

And I couldn’t help but think:

How many of us do the same thing in our own lives?

We decide to take a new path.We commit to doing better.We start moving in a new direction.

But when progress feels slow…When things don’t move as quickly as we expected…

We turn around.

We go back to what’s familiar.Back to what’s comfortable.

Even if it means risking the future we said we wanted.

The Influence of Others

The second thought that came to mind was the car that followed.

Would that driver have made that decision on their own?

Or did seeing someone else do it make it feel like a good idea?

That happens to us more often than we realize.

We start our own journey with intention and clarity.

Then we see what someone else is doing.

And suddenly, we question ourselves.

We lose focus.We compare.We shift direction.

And before we know it, we’re no longer on our path, we’re reacting to someone else’s.

The Part You Don’t See in the Moment

Here’s the part that stayed with me the most:

About five minutes later… the road opened up.

Completely.

Traffic cleared, and it was smooth sailing from there.

All those drivers had to do was wait a little longer.

Just five more minutes.

Instead, they turned around and likely had to restart their journey all over again.

The Money Lesson

Your financial journey will have moments that feel like traffic.

Progress will feel slow.Results won’t come as quickly as you hoped.You may question whether it’s worth it.

But that doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.

👉 Sometimes you are closer than you think.

Turning around too soon can cost you more than staying the course.

It can cost you:

• the progress you’ve already made

• the discipline you’ve been building

• and the future you set out to create

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And just like that driver, it often happens right before things start to clear.

Stay in Your Lane

Not everyone who looks like they’re moving faster is going in the right direction.

Some people are just taking shortcuts that lead them back to where they started.

Stay focused on your path.Stay committed to your plan.Stay patient with your progress.

Final Thought

When it comes to your financial journey, not every delay is a sign to turn around.

Sometimes, it’s just a sign to keep going.

About the Author

Petra-Ann Brown is a financial educator, coach, and founder of Brown Financial Solutions. A 100 Women of Color honoree, she helps busy professionals and families build financial clarity, confidence, and intentional money habits so their finances support the life they’re building, not control it. She also hosts the Island Money 365 podcast.