“When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and situations that are going to allow you to once and for all develop what it is you need.” – Tracy McMillan
When I first moved to what I refer to as the Upper South, I asked God for patience to help me cope with and conquer life outside of the Sunshine State. What I got was not only the line at the bank author Tracy McMillan talks about, but lines (complete with screaming children) at the grocery store, businesses with roughly estimated hours of operation, innumerable “You’re not from here?” stares and remarks, and a consistent reminder that patience — for me, at least — is a learned virtue.
Years later, the patience of Job is still the goal, but I’m so much more aware of the people, places, and situations life provides to help me learn what patience in my life really looks like. For me, patience is deep breaths. Patience is releasing control of what I think the moment could or should be. Patience is practicing kindness — whether holding the door open for a woman and her children, letting someone finish a thought without interjecting, or even giving myself permission to slow down and take things as they come.
Working to become more patient has helped me confront my issues with control, independence, maturity and perfectionism — and i’m incredibly grateful for the self-awareness I’ve gained in the process. While I still might cuss at a driver slow to pull off at a green light, I appreciate the patience I’ve learned to practice to date and still hope I learn to practice a little more before my time’s up.
In what ways or places do you practice patience? Have you found that patience is a learned virtue for you as well?