Waiting and the patience curve...you will practice patience as you read this one...

I know that patience is a virtue, but I don't have it yet. I don't really pray for it, because I figure that more patience testing will come if I do (just being honest). I don't like lines. I don't like following slow walkers in the mall or an airport. I hate traffic jams and drivers that stay in the fast lane driving 35 MPH. I dislike when my laptop has the spinning wheel of death or is slower than I think it should be. I can't stand sitting in the airport waiting on my flight (doing that now). Do you get the picture? I really detest waiting and patience - not saying it's a good thing that I don’t like it. It's just me. 

Now I know that patience has to be part of me and every other person and that waiting is a thing that we all do most everyday, so I have to be patient and wait lots, and I am patient when I have to be. I think there's a curve you get to, where you just get over the wait and realize your impatience is hurting you more than anyone, so you smile and sit and wait some more. You have to. Getting mad or frustrated will only make things worse and usually you will bother others and hurt your reputation in the process. 

I also think the curve gets silly at a point along the way too. Not long ago I was on a flight from New York City to Chicago. We were on the plane and rolling out to set our course, when a huge rain storm hit. The plane was actually being moved by the wind while we sat in line. The pilot said we would have to wait it out for about 45 minutes or so. There were a few moans and sighs, but we knew we were safer to wait. About 2 1/2 hours later, the pilot said we were going to go back to the gate (FCC regulations) because we were on the plane too long. Every 15 minutes, after that, we were told that it should be just 15 minutes more, but hundreds of planes were now backed up along the eastern seaboard and the line was growing, so we knew it would be awhile. 

I was sitting with some newlyweds and we hit the 5 hour mark and could do nothing but joke and laugh at every announcement and laugh at those that were getting upset. We got so tickled (southern word for laughing hard) that we could no longer do anything but laugh and smile at the situation. We passed the final curve of patience and realized that life would go on just fine. It took over 7 hours to finally get to Chicago...ouch.

I wrote this on a flight and directly after the flight, I had to put patience to the test twice. First, there was a luggage issue after my flight landed and it took about 45 minutes for the luggage to get off he plane and then it went to the wrong carousel. I kept my cool and just found the luggage and rode to the rental car facility (aren’t you proud of me?). 

I got to the Enterprise Rent-a-Car counter and there were over 20 people in line (no joke)! I just smiled and walked up to the line. The man in front of me (about 6’5” and 350 lbs), was dressed in his business attire, but was fuming. He could not believe the length of the line and he let everyone know it. He made several comments to anyone who would listen and asked me my thoughts on a worker that left with the line so long. I just said “They have to have a lunch break sometime.” He glared at me (I think I made a new friend for life), and when he finally got to the counter, he paid extra to get an upgraded car. When I got to the area to get my car, I chit-chatted with the employee and asked if they satisfied the man that was complaining. He smiled and took me over to get my car (mine was the cheapest economy price) and he said “Do you want the HHR, the Jeep, the minivan or the Volvo?” Volvo? Are you kidding me - the Volvo was it. He upgraded me because of some kind “patient” words. Patience sure pays off - I guess I will change my impatient ways.

Lessons Learned: Patience is needed and the wait won't hurt you (sometimes it means a Volvo), especially if you pass the final curve.

Thoughts: Have you laughed so hard you couldn't stand it?