DO YOU KNOW HOW TO WAIT?
Do You Suffer From Impatience? Learning How to Wait Can be a Big Help.
By Roy McDaniel
Can you imagine how much time people spend every year just waiting?They wait in line at the store or at the gas station. They wait to be served in a restaurant. They wait to see the doctor or dentist. They wait for buses and trains. Yes, a surprising amount of time in a person's life is spent waiting for things to happen and waiting can be very frustrating.
These days, there never seems to be enough time to do everything, and thinking about those other things that we should be doing can make waiting a real trial. That's why businesses seek ways to avoid unnecessary delays during work processes. More goods in less time can mean greater profits. Businesses that directly serve the public try to offer quick service--fast food, drive through banking, and the like--because they know that pleasing the customer includes cutting down on waiting time.
LEARN HOW TO WAIT
Most of us have experienced being in a car with a driver who is constantly trying to pass the car ahead of him. Often, there is no pressing need--the driver doesn't have an urgent appointment. Still, he cannot stand having his progress dictated by another driver. His lack of patience betrays that he hasn't learned how to wait.
Learned? Yes, knowing how to wait is a lesson that must be learned. Nobody is born with it. Babies demand instant attention when they're hungry or in discomfort. It's only as they get older that they understand that sometimes they have to wait for what they want. Indeed, since waiting is an inevitable part of life, knowing how to wait patiently when necessary is the mark of a mature person.
Of course, there are urgent situations where impatience is understandable. A young husband rushing his wife to the hospital because their new baby is on its way would justifiably be impatient about delays. In most cases, however, lives are not at stake when people are forced to wait. In those cases, things could be much more pleasant if everyone learned to be patient--even if the waiting was caused by someone's inefficiency or lack of interest. Moreover, it would be easier to be patient if everyone learned how to use the time spent waiting in a profitable way.
Roy McDaniel is a freelance writer. If you would like to contact him, write to:
Roy McDaniel P.O. Box 919 Brookhaven, PA 19015
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