The Waiting Place

Right now, so many people are waiting.

Waiting for the next ball to drop.
Waiting for something good to come of it.
Just… waiting.

The Waiting Place.

Perhaps you’ve been there. Or at the very least, you’ve heard of it.

Dr. Seuss described it perfectly in Oh, the Places You’ll Go! —

“You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

I’ve always loved this poem. Not just for its whimsy or rhyme, but because of that section — the Waiting Place.

It shows up for me again and again, in different seasons of life. Sometimes when I least expect it.

And maybe you know it too:
That restless space where clarity hasn’t arrived yet.
Where you’re waiting for direction, or permission, or the “right time.”
Where it feels easier to sit still than risk moving forward.

But here’s the thing: life doesn’t stop while we’re waiting. The world keeps spinning. Opportunities keep passing. And sometimes the longer we stay in that space, the harder it is to take even the smallest step out.

I’ve been there. Restless. Frustrated. Tempted to believe that maybe if I just wait long enough, something will simply happen on its own.

But the Waiting Place doesn’t deliver answers. Progress never comes from perfect conditions. It comes from movement. From choosing action over hesitation. From doing the next right thing. From embracing progress over perfection.

And here’s the truth I keep learning:
Often, we wait because we’re afraid.
Afraid of making the wrong decision.
Afraid of messing up.
Afraid of failing.

But doing nothing isn’t the right decision, either.

Because nothing happens… if you don’t let it.

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Erin Gregory Creative is the studio of Erin Gregory, a writer, marketing strategist, and full-time communications and branding consultant for mission-driven organizations.

She’s also the host of Notes from the Messy Middle, a podcast on Substack exploring creativity, communication, and intentional living. Her work connects personal growth with strategic storytelling, helping people and brands speak with more clarity and purpose.

Read more at www.eringregorycreative.com or connect on LinkedIn.