Ever.

Nature, which governs the whole, will soon change all things which thou seest, and out of their substance will make other things, and again other things from the substance of them, in order that the world may be ever new.  Substance is like a river in continual flow; the energies undergo constant changes and do work in infinite variety. There is hardly anything that stands still or remains still.  Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them.

Marcus Aurelius, from Meditations

Step.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.  It is not important that he should mature as soon as an apple-tree or an oak. Shall he turn his spring into summer?

Henry David Thoreau, from Walden

A primary mistake that public education continues to make is in permanently grouping students by age (but doing anything else doesn't fit their industrial model ... "It's important that we keep to schedule/There must be no delay").  As we say in our classroom, popcorn pops at different rates.  Be relentless in the pursuit of learning, but be patient with the progress of the process. Uncle Teddy also reminded us that comparison is the thief of joy.