Patience vs. Waiting

Originally uploaded by matty franklin

Patience is difficult to learn. It's a fact for most of us. Especially in today's world of instant gratification. How can something be worth any wait?

We've been groomed by society to throw patience aside. It's rarely considered a virtue. For example, we're told we deserve fast service when we go out to eat (not that we don't), so most places have a drive-thru. Even banks, liquor stores, and some pharmacies feature them. The message is, "We know you're busy and don't have time to get out of your car." But are we really that busy? Do we really have so little time that we are incapable of stopping for a moment and getting out of our car? Will it ruin our day?

There's nothing inherently wrong with these things. They're a convenience that the business offers its customers. They're nice and do make things easier. But I think because so much in America is about, "Now, now, now!" we have a tendency to forget the value of patience. Some results are truly worth a little bit of a wait. If we rush everything, we lose a great deal of quality in our lives.

• Parents with children understand the value of patience. Patience that I do not have right now, but maybe someday.
• Being a teacher requires patience. If you don't have it before you become one, you will learn it quickly.
  
• Higher education requires a form of patience. While in school we want those 4 years to go by quickly and some days are faced with dread. In time, however, we'll be able to look back and be thankful we got through those years of studying. In fact, college will seem like a breeze when compared to some of the things the real world can throw at you.
  

I could go on, but I think you get the drift.

One should not confuse patience with waiting. Sometimes we wait for things to come to us and call it patience. We wait for that promotion to come to us, while doing very little to achieve it. We wait for recognition, instead of doing the things to earn the recognition we believe we deserve. We wait for the pretty girl in class (or wherever) to notice us, instead of just asking her out to dinner.

Patience should never be confused for waiting. When we wait for things to happen, they may never occur. The promotion or girl will most likely pass us by. When we're patient while working towards a goal, we almost always receive a valuable reward.

It's time to wrap up this post. I thank you for your patience.

"Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown." ~ Chinese Proverb