This week, I was inspired by a story that’s literally out of this world. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to be on the International Space Station for just a week. That was the mission. Launch. Dock. Test the systems. Return home. Simple enough… until it wasn’t.
Due to unexpected technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, that one-week mission turned into a nine-month stay.
Let that sink in.
They signed up for a week—and stayed in orbit for almost an entire year. No detour. No reschedule. No “I didn’t sign up for this.” They stayed. They adapted. And they continued to serve the mission.
Training Over Panic
What struck me most was this: they didn’t lose focus. They didn’t complain. They didn’t crumble under the pressure. They relied on their years of training. They trusted the process. And they kept their eye on the goal.
Isn’t that exactly what we need when life throws a curveball?
Too many times, we set out on a “one-week mission.” A project that’s supposed to wrap up by Friday. A goal we think is just around the corner. And then… the delays hit. The unexpected happens. The finish line moves. In those moments, we have a choice: panic or pivot.
Fall Back on Your Preparation
That’s what astronauts are trained to do. And honestly? That’s what we need to be ready for too. Life rarely sticks to the original script. Business deals fall through. Health issues interrupt progress. Plans change. But if we’ve done the work—if we’ve prepared, practiced, trained, and conditioned ourselves—we can keep going.
We don’t give up on the mission just because the timeline changes.
What’s Your Mission?
Maybe you’re in the middle of something right now that’s taking way longer than you expected. Maybe you’re waiting for a breakthrough, a contract, a yes that still hasn’t come. You might feel stuck, delayed, even stranded.
This is your reminder: trust your training. Trust your resilience. Your mission still matters. Keep your focus. Lean into what you know no matter how bumpy the ride. Have a great Front-Row Friday—and no matter how long it takes, keep your mission in view.
You’ve got this.
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
