Patience Is A Skill

Have you ever noticed those moments when you know your patience is being tested. You know what I mean, you're in a rush, and the cashier is moving in what seems like slow motion. Maybe behind a customer who has endless questions..then your mind starts to wonder about the scenarios of you being late. Or you are stuck in traffic..which we all know how frustrating that is. Especially when you are already running behind. In case you have yet realize, time does not stop. Although we wish it would at times. It doesn't. So no matter how frustrated you get waiting in line or stuck behind a bumper to bumper rush hour. You can't do anything about it. You are stuck in that moment, so why get so mad and angry that you stress yourself. That is only hurting yourself. It is true that patience is NOT a inherited trait, it is a skill that has to be learned.

I like to think that I am a patient person. It was something that I had to learn though. I had to learn a lot of patience when it came to watching kids. I have been babysitting for years now, and not trying to brag but I'm pretty much a pro baby-sitter. (flips hair off shoulder.) I just have watched many different kinds of kids. I have watched kids that are super easy and are well-behaved to children where they don't listen and are just difficult to watch--I get all kids are different and parents have their own way of parenting, which I totally respect. I have dealt with many temper tantrums in stores on walks in the neighborhood or just in the house. I don't even have my own kids yet and I have done it all. (: From when you are chasing the kids around to put them in time-out, to trying to soothe the crying toddler who misses their mom or scrapes their knee. Don't think those super easy and well-behaved kids don't test my patience either. If we are coloring, and you see them color outside the lines..ohhh that is when my slight OCD comes in. Or when the kid is really quiet and doesn't hardly talk or show expression. What am I supposed to do now? Thankfully the kids usually have other sibling who will help me out. 

Back to the point of this post: having the skill of patience is really nice because you go from that helpless rage of impatience to sense of personal space. Really! Just read on...the first thing is you have to stop. Stop thinking about how you shouldn't be in this situation-you are. The next thing is to take a long deep breath..Inhale and exhale slowly. Relax you shoulders and your jaw too. Now go into you mind and figure out when you know you are impatient. Tightness, tense, short breaths etc. Focus on them and touch them with you mind. Sorry I do yoga. HA. You soon start to feel your muscles relax. It takes time, you are not going to become instantly patient after one time. But once you do, you are thankful for the fact that we live in world where you can call someone and let them know you will be late. And you can work out make-up times and such. You look at little things surrounding you. It is all going to be okay in the end. It is not the end of the world. 

Not to say that I don't get impatient. I do. Like when I order something online. Why do I have to wait 3-5 business days? No. I expect it on my doorstep two hours later(; In all seriousness there are certain things that end up me not having the patience for it. It really just depends on the day and what it is. But with this learned skill, I am able to control it.

Goodnight!

-H