Patience.
The ability to wait.
Shakespeare: “How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?"
Benjamin Franklin: “He that can have patience, can have what he will.”
Most days, I find myself to be a very patient person. I interact with hundreds of people a day: my husband, my 2 children (7 & 3.5), my 2 dogs (9 & 6 months), my students (90 per day on average, ages 11-14), and my colleagues. However there are moments that my impulses prevail and I react before I think or breathe. I honestly think there is a set amount of patience per day, and when that runs low I no longer have the ability to be proactive.
My go-to method for Patience is BREATHE. Simply take a breath before responding. Easy to do, but challenging to remember at times. Sometimes I add COUNTING in some way to the breathing. Count to 5. Breathe in and out 5 times. Count to 10.
Something I need to do is to figure out my TRIGGERS. When I do lose my patience, is there a pattern to the situations? Is it what is being said? Is it what is being done? Is it a time of day?
Two tips that I will start using to help with Patience: HUMOR and FORGIVENESS. When I feel impatient, I can use humor to defuse the feeling. Laughter can truly be the best medicine. And I should remember to forgive myself for being impatient. It will be impossible to be patient 100% of my life, so I need to take it easy on myself.
It will be interesting if I remember to use these tips this week and I find myself a little short on Patience.
Resources:
http://www.tinatessina.com/practicing_patience.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Patient
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43383729/ns/today-today_health/t/type-hurry-learn-patience-heres-how/#.UPLPxUQZwnU
http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2010/09/16/patience/
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_78.htm
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
We're Still Here?
Take that Mayans! I always new it was just a logistics issue: you ran out of space on your massive stone calendar and decided to wait for a better method than "stone etching" for the next calendar. I completely understand.
And yes, I am still here, although I have not posted in a few months. It's the same old reason: LIFE. For as much as I enjoy posting, "finding" the time seems to be my challenge. I tried scheduling it, but then I just ignored my own schedule!
I want that to change. I want to post at least twice per calendar month. I have a couple of posts floating through my head: a memorial to my dog, my holiday crafts/gifts, and how to be Patient.
I'm not big on making "New Year Resolutions" since I believe any day is a good day to resolve to be a better person. And the reason most people "forget" their resolutions by March is that they do not have a measurement system or the resolution is too general to be measured.
Over the past year, I have gained more control over my health through a change in nutrition and working with a medical specialist. I have taken initial steps in sharing my knowledge with more people than those I directly interact with. And I am remembering to do things for ME... still not nearly enough, but it is a start.
I still need to find the right balance between what I am doing, what I want to do, and what I need to do. I'm pretty sure that will be a life-long lesson to be learned; that's why retired people seem to have it figured out. But I can take the initial steps now, right?
Happy New Year! May the roller coaster ride of life meet your expectations: lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, fast and slow, ultimately leaving you smiling and wanting more!
And yes, I am still here, although I have not posted in a few months. It's the same old reason: LIFE. For as much as I enjoy posting, "finding" the time seems to be my challenge. I tried scheduling it, but then I just ignored my own schedule!
I want that to change. I want to post at least twice per calendar month. I have a couple of posts floating through my head: a memorial to my dog, my holiday crafts/gifts, and how to be Patient.
I'm not big on making "New Year Resolutions" since I believe any day is a good day to resolve to be a better person. And the reason most people "forget" their resolutions by March is that they do not have a measurement system or the resolution is too general to be measured.
Over the past year, I have gained more control over my health through a change in nutrition and working with a medical specialist. I have taken initial steps in sharing my knowledge with more people than those I directly interact with. And I am remembering to do things for ME... still not nearly enough, but it is a start.
I still need to find the right balance between what I am doing, what I want to do, and what I need to do. I'm pretty sure that will be a life-long lesson to be learned; that's why retired people seem to have it figured out. But I can take the initial steps now, right?
Happy New Year! May the roller coaster ride of life meet your expectations: lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, fast and slow, ultimately leaving you smiling and wanting more!
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