Burnt Toast Theory: Trusting Life’s Detours

The Beauty of Delays

Some mornings you wake up and it feels as if life has one main goal: to humble you. You wake up late or on the wrong side of the bed. The perfect outfit you had imagined in your head doesn’t make sense in reality. Your coffee tastes a bit off. And just like that, these annoying chain of events so early in the day can spoil your mood and set the tone for the rest of the day. In such moments, it is important to reflect on the Burnt Toast Theory– it’s not just about toast but rather how we handle life’s little disruptions.

As an African Millenial, there’s so much pressure to maintain a balance in everything- from family expectations, personal goals and unsolicited opinions of those who think they know you more than you know yourself. The pressure to be flawless, to get it right all the time, to never falter can be overwhelming and when things go sideways (because they will), it’s so easy to spiral and feel like you are not doing enough. The Burnt Toast Theory encourages us to slow down, to accept life’s small delays and inconveniences as a form of protection. Not every setback is the end of the world. Sometimes, it’s a redirection. Sometimes, it’s life’s way of marshaling us away from what could have been a bigger catastrophe which we might never even know we avoided.

In essence, the next time you are running late, delayed or you find yourself feeling frustrated, please remember: some things don’t always make sense right away. Sometimes, the delays and the detours are part of a more beautiful and elaborate plan- one that might not be clear initially. Exhale. Surrender. Trust that things will unfold exactly how they are meant to, always.