"Patience"

Seemingly nice word, but one that we all have trouble with, at least I do, and always have since I was a child. I truly believe if you didn’t witness patience as a child, it’s not likely it will be a part of your adult life, but something you will have to realize you are lacking, and begin to incorporate it into your daily life in some way. Unfortunately patience can’t  be bought at the corner store, or caught like the common cold…..or accidentally rubbed up against, but has to be decidedly learned. I know…..do I ever run out of things to add to your arsenal of life skills? Well, I haven’t run out of them for myself, so it’s not looking good so far. It would be nice if when we were born, we were, while given our first bath, implanted with a chip that had all the important things we would need throughout our lifetime, like patience, compassion, understanding……all those things that again are not automatic, but learned as we navigate the world.

Now granted I do believe in inherited behaviors, so if your mother, father, grandparents or uncle Fred that died 50 years ago, had a knack for patience and understanding, it could be passed onto baby Sue in 2012. And of course if he had been a gruff, rude, and impatient man, then Sue might not be so lucky. She may have to work extra hard at developing those behaviors or traits. So, for now, let’s focus on patience, and whether we believe it’s inherited or learned, the fact remains, there are an overabundance of people walking around these days who have no idea of what that word means. And honestly, even if someone does understand the true meaning of patience, they are hell bent on not practicing it at any time or any place, with anyone. If anything there is a blatant disregard for the word or anything close to it.

My theory? As I’ve expressed before, I believe that most of us really try to do the right thing….really try to be kind, loving, understanding and yes, patient. But the world is so caught up in this incredible pace, it makes it almost impossible to practice or even feel patience. I guess the thought would be, I have no time to be patient…..everything has to be right now…..no waiting….no delayed gratification…..right now. Now just reading that makes me exhausted, and wondering how the world would or could change so drastically if we all learned to practice a bit more patience. Maybe I am getting too old to understand the reality of life, it’s demands, expectations and driven-ness to keep up with everyone else, even if you have no idea who “they” are.

We have become accustomed to drive-thru everything….not just food nowadays. And granted it would be nice to have a drive-thru patience booth, like the old photo hut where you could drop off your film to get developed. But I guess unless I open one that serves coffee and a donut, I probably won’t have much luck getting anyone interested in taking the time to frequent it to see what patience might look like, or how much it cost. And of course anyone can go to their favorite bookstore and most likely find 50 books or more on the subject of patience, there is still no guarantee that it will really be embraced on a level that can actually make a difference in not only your life…but in those around you.

Ah…..there it is. There is the key to patience.  It has to do with “those around you.” For me that is the key to so many things that are not right with the world, because we are too busy to realize that our lack of patience, understanding, compassion, whatever it may be, has to do with not only ourselves, but with those around us. That is the importance of learning patience. Because the lack of patience not only steals our peace, joy and contentment in life, but invariably, it will steal it from those people we come into contact with each day. Now of course it’s easy to point the finger outward, and blame any situation on the fact that he or she has no patience. We can do that with any behavior that is lacking in some way. But that’s the easy way out, and honestly does nothing to help others learn patience. We have to make a decision that we are going to be the one to not only learn it, but to incorporate it into our daily lives, so others can witness it and want it for themselves.

I know…..it’s not easy. I have to pray for patience each day, and actually breath it in like I’m being deprived of oxygen, and I must have it in order to survive. Now will you live without patience? Of course….you don’t have to have it to survive, but the point here is, if you realize that practicing patience can not only change your life,  but it will change the lives of so many that you come into contact with. When I think that there is one little thing that I could do to make someone else’s life easier or more pleasant, or meaningful, I get this wave of joy because it didn’t cost me anything, except opening my eyes and becoming more aware of what patience really is, and how healing it is in so many ways.

So, if you need a wave of joy and peace to flow through you today…..yes…I mean you. Then see the word patience in your mind, and decide that you are going to be a blessing in someone else’s life today by practicing it in a big way, or just a simple way. I guarantee you’ll walk away with a smile on your face, and more importantly you will know that what you did just changed the world.