We were already late from the hotel, and the last thing we wanted was to miss our trains. One of the highlights of our trip to Dubai was attending the screening of the Avengers movie at the Dubai Mall. We planned the trip carefully to make sure we had that experience.

The day of the movie, we thought that we had left on time from the hotel. We took our tourists’ maps and started moving around to find the metro that would take us to Dubai Mall. It was a smooth process from getting the electronic cards to boarding the metro.

A few minutes later, something was not okay. The map indicated a left turn somewhere, but we took a right turn in that area. Sadly, the metro was operating in a precise manner; it only goes to specific stops at specific times. We had to wait until the next stop and ask.

At this moment, we realised we were supposed to drop at the last stop and take another metro. That error cost us fifteen minutes. We didn’t think it was a big deal since the movie had another twenty minutes before starting.

After arriving at the Dubai Mall, all hell broke loose. We couldn’t read the mall map. Remember, Dubai Mall was the biggest mall in the world when we visited. On top of that, we started rushing, and that is the first sign that we were late.

We ran to the entries, but they all looked the same. Sometimes, we ended up in the same spot after going in circles. After another ten minutes of rushing and panicking, we calmed down to ask one of the guards. He showed us the shortcut to the theatre.

Our experience was not as pleasant as we imagined. We rushed to buy the popcorn, then spent some more minutes finding our seats. We realised that we had forgotten our 3D glasses at the counter, so we had to rush back. Until we settled, we missed the first twenty minutes of the film.

When I returned to Tanzania, I booked to see the movie again, especially the first twenty minutes. But that process taught me one major lesson in life: to make sure I never expose myself to the moments of rushing.

To avoid rushing in my life, I prepare ahead for challenges and unexpected events. From struggling with tourist maps to taking the wrong metro, getting lost in a massive mall, and forgetting the 3D glasses.

To avoid rushing for my goals, I have learned to plan in advance what it will take and likely how long it will be. Then, I add double the time that I thought it would take and triple the cost and effort I estimated.

To get to a meeting on time, I plan for traffic jams, parking issues, and forgetting important items. Then I execute my timing to accommodate all those things.

If you ever catch yourself rushing to do something, that is a sign that you are already late. Learn to catch yourself before rushing. Plan and execute your life in such a way that you won’t need to rush.

#iThinkSo

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be free from suffering.

May you find peace and joy.

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Rogers Katuma

Financial Artist, Senior Adventurer, Occasional Storyteller, and Amateur Golfer