Hurry Up And Wait

Resilience is a vital life skill for those of us seeking a path to greater wisdom, strength, and growth in times of adversity. However, the strategies are not of the ready-fire-aim variety.

Reacting to life's events demands patience, a quality that I, being an extrovert, often find challenging to embody. As we approach the year's end, I share these reflections in the hope of learning from introverts the invaluable art of patience and the grace of waiting.

Consider What Happens When We Are Forced to “Wait”

In our sped-up world of hypertext, hyperspace, and high blood pressure, we might do well to consider what happens when we are forced to “wait”. I find myself thinking about those moments when stillness takes precedence over activity. It is in the quiet of waiting that our creativity, imagination, and dreams take place. Some waiting contains optimism, and others hold negativity. Some waiting we can control. Others we cannot. Think of this list as a catalyst for your personal contemplation on the concept of "waiting."

Extend the list and uncover what remains latent, awaiting your initiative to awaken. Let go of those aspects where you must yield to the eventual outcome. Regard this piece as an invitation for introspection, enjoyment, and reminiscence.

Waiting...

Waiting... the mental fingers-crossed image when the offer has been made on the house.

Waiting... the breathless time between first date and first kiss.

Waiting... the hush of morning stillness when sleepy heads listen for the morning paper to thud on the pavement.

Waiting... the eager anticipation of birth and the ever-expanding stomach which hides your feet from view.

Waiting... the empty mailbox yawning for a letter from someone, maybe just anyone.

Waiting... the anxious moments when we visualize the worst news from the doctor.

Waiting... the tingly, giggly, squirmy endless march from Thanksgiving to Santa’s arrival.

Waiting... the boredom of watching airline repair crews work on your last flight of the long week.

Waiting... the stomach-growling grace before meals while the smell of pungent Italian sausage drifts from the plate.

Waiting... the blank space from artist’s block to fruitful creativity.

Waiting... the pause between the end of a speech and the audience’s response.

Waiting... the frustrating, maddening on-hold music while you wait for technical support to answer your software question.

Waiting... the check is in the mail.

Waiting... the moments between dusk and dark and the fireworks display.

Waiting... the prayer and sorrow as a hand is held while death approaches.

NOW, it’s your turn. I’ll wait to see how you use my words to trigger your thoughts.