Patience
All we need is just a little patience.
Thursday morning, I had not yet written or published this week's version of #ThursdayThoughts.
As I sat waiting for the train to take me downtown for a day in the office instead of my basement, these song lyrics popped into my head, complete with Axl Rose's "soothing" voice.
I had not taken the train or gone to the office in roughly two months.
An in-person event at work motivated me to head to the office and venture away from the relative comfort of my basement.
The minutes waiting became over an hour before a train arrived.
All we need is a little patience.
When a train did arrive, it was already over-flowing with people wanting to head downtown for work.
I could not fit on the train and was told it would be another hour until the next train might arrive.
All we need is a little patience.
I ended up walking back home and working from . . . my basement.
Later in the afternoon, determined to attend the in-person event and see my colleagues in 3D, I decided to drive downtown.
After a 75 minute car ride, I arrived at my destination (the return trip that evening took me 35 minutes).
All we need is a little patience.
The day on Friday was rather busy and as much as I wanted to write and publish what is becoming my "Saturday" Thoughts, I could not make the time for it.
All we need is a little patience.
A different Mark from my not-so-distant past would have gotten incredibly frustrated at each of these occasions, my blood pressure would have risen, and my stress level would have escalated.
Several proud moments transpired as I leaned into the patience inside me.
I say this not to boast but rather to say that with a little patience, I enjoyed my entire day, even embraced the adversity that presented itself.
I say this as confirmation that people can grow, we can evolve and choose to respond differently to unplanned events.
Does it happen this way for me all of the time? Not at all. I'm still human and get frustrated.
And yet I am grateful for my ability to show a little patience.
What about you?
When you need a little patience, notice what's going on, pause, maybe take a deep breath, then choose how you want to respond, and enjoy a little more peace.
Patience and peace.
Those are worth waiting for.
Create your life.
