How patient are you?
By mimpi
@mimpi1911 (25464)
India
October 11, 2008 3:19am CST
Are you the one who invariably finds himself opting for takeaways just to avoid the queues and also gets jittery over waiting in restaurants? Are you the one who prefers instant stuffs, ready-to-eat meals and shuffle in the doctor’s office even when you are the at number 3?
Well, if you ask me, I would rather be honest and tell you that my patience depends largely on my priorities in life. I can be uncomplainingly enduring and also annoyingly jittery when it comes to certain things in life.
[b]Do you go through trying times being patient?
Is your patience situational and keep varying with different aspects in life?
[/b]
[i]We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.
Helen Keller[/i]
10 people like this
28 responses
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
11 Oct 08
“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”
Mimpi, I think that this quote pretty much sums up how i would look at my own definition of patience.
It does vary with different situations, my own priorities in life and with different people as well.
Waiting in line at the bank, the mall ,the doctor, even in traffic seem to come easily. At the same time when one is in a hurry the levels of patience do change.
But the real test of patience i would feel goes much beyond this and into situations which have greater meaning and significance in life. Those which involve the fruits of my hard work and labour, those which involve my dreams and ambitions , my pursuits in the matters of love,family, home and happiness.
I've been through trying times by loosing my patience and the same time have enjoyed the fruits of being patience as well.
The latter is the way i've chosen and the fruits and joys of them are starting to be felt and enjoyed slowly, but surely.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
11 Oct 08
The quote is appropriate and I would love to see myself right there. Laziness and keeping your cool and composure are not the same certainly but many times we are being misinterpreted and many times we do it ourselves.
To me patience is one of the greatest virtues and we can actually practice it. Its more like meditation. More we practise it more liberated we get. Patience, more significantly, is but how we deal with our lives and how much poise and composure we deliver to make a peaceful living. I try to be patient in life.
Having said this, certain aspects in life , as in when your patience is taken in for granted as your weakness. Weakness to protest, weakness to be brave, weakness to protest and demonstrate - is kind of offputting. We have become so much fidgety that we can hardly wait for minutes! That's a deterrent in proper human development. Kids must be taught to realise the value of waitings and endurance.
Thanks very much.
3 people like this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
11 Oct 08
Being patient with people is indeed tough, especially when they mistake it to be your weakness. But with practice and with the right amount of composure it certainly prevails.
In trying to keep with the fast pace of life we are loosing this great virtue of patience and in the bargain loose much more.
I'm sure your endeavours in being patient will bear its fruits in life Mimpi.
BTW. that is a great image you have uploaded. Reminded me of this quote.
You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly and patiently in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
11 Oct 08
Isn't the photo beautiful! I just love it. Just look at the eyes of the boy and the way he is sitting - isn't that so full on attention, passion, perseverance and patience ofcourse! No tension, no thoughts at the back of his mind, no hurry to return, no hurry to catch the train, no regret of missing the world. I wish we could be like that - relaxed, released , happy and patient.
3 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
11 Oct 08
Yeah, exactly what I meant. Its hard to be patient it certain situations, isn't it?
2 people like this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
11 Oct 08
Hello mimipi. I am usually the kind of people who are patient, but not always. Sometimes I can also lose my patience though in most cases I am patient. I think that to be a patient person is a wonderful virtue that one can possess. I need to march forward toward it to be an always-patient person. Thank you for your discussion.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Nov 08
Yeah, patience is always needed on the teachers' side to be a good teacher. Happy posting, mimpi.
@simplyshawn (650)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I'm most impatient when my kids are stalling and I have things to do within a timeframe.
I can be patient depending on the circumstance. I've been on enough trip that involve flight plans to have learned patience very well. When there's nothing more you can do about the situation, you pray and you wait. You do your part, contact who you can and things will work themselves out. Sometimes it's a hard lesson, but in the long run, you'll have some really great stories to tell.
@anex08 (868)
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Hi mimpi,, Nice to read your discussion again. well for me, Id say im not patience at all times particularly if im on a hurry for something but if i do not think of anything rather than my present location or doings I'd say im patience enough that I could smile while waiting. Patience do not come come all the time because we have different priorities in our life and so it depends usually on the situation we are into.
Have a nice day!!!!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
Hi anex
so good to see you after a while. Hope you are fine.
I agree as to what you have to say. priorities are so important and our mental frame is atuned to it so intrinsically.
Have a nice day.
@sweetbabyjane (1929)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I have not always been patient and use have a really high temper that would just explode. I live with my 83 year old Mother and take care of my 3 year old grandaughter. I have to have a lot of patience with my blessed Mother. She is so close to being deaf. Bless her heart she can't hear the television, she reads the words there, the smoke detector, a ringing phone, a knock at the door, the tornado siren when it goes off. There are some days when she has a little bit of hearing. I have to speak so she can read my lips or get right next to her ear and speak clearly. This was difficult at first, but I learned. And, my 3 year old is very active and is into everything. I have more patience that I thought I did.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
Jane
you are a sweet heart yourself and have great patience. trust me it's not easy to deal with stuffs like that. I would have messed up for sure. Specially when there is a huge gaps.
Kudos to you.
@balasri (26537)
• India
4 Nov 08
Basically I am a very impatient man. Aries being my star sign I always need everything now at times yesterday and expect the same from others too. I just cannot stand a clumsy person taking the whole time in the world to accomplish a small job.
Well things have changed or started changing now. I am practicing to be patient. I am beginning to doubt that my impatience means may be selfishness. Every one has their own speed of doing things. People are not robots. So I am mellowing and don't fret about waiting in the offices or in the waiting rooms of the doctors’ started taking my crossword puzzles and Sudoku books with me. Wisdom is dawning on me
Talking about selfishness my doctor has advised me to take care of my Blood Pressure. A man can mellow with so many ingredients.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
4 Nov 08
bala
so you require so many things to mellow down? doesn't matter as long as you are controlled. no way we can see you with hypetension. you take care.
1 person likes this
@balasri (26537)
• India
11 Oct 08
The degree of my patience is directly related to the things I like.I can be very patient with a customer when clinching a deal.That means money for which I am doing business.I can be very patient when waiting hungrily for my food when It is made in the kitchen because it is worth the waiting.I am the most impatient with the stupid gyrations and more stupid commercials in our TVs.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
Hahahah
Same here Bala. But I cannot wait when I am hungry. It annoys me like anything. I am very impatient on those occasions.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
11 Oct 08
I am like you mimpi in the sense that my levels of patience vary. I do consider myself to be patient most of the time and with most things though. It all comes down to my level of tolerance as well. Sometimes I end up getting to the point when I just can't tolerate a certain person's attitude or work ethic for example and when this happens then of course my ability to be patient flies out the window.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
11 Oct 08
Ditto you. My level of tolerance is highly conditional and situational. Like when I am in good frame of mind , with good company I can endure and be patient. Even the long waits do not make me jittery. The same would have been annoying with some other people around and in some other frame of mind.
4 people like this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Oct 08
Well, I don't go to doctors, and when dining I make reservations ahead if it is a busy place, so I probably don't experience the same frustration that you do, but the other day we had to take the car in for a smog check and waited an hour or so for the work to be done. It was fun because the garage had a lovely bench outdoors and it was a nice day. The shop was near a railroad track and a huge train went by so we were quite entertained.
That is much different from standing in a long line somewhere with obnoxious people ahead and behind, eh?
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
13 Oct 08
Lucky you! All is not that lovely here and people really have to wait till forever.
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
16 Oct 08
I'm a pretty patient person, except when it comes to the noise of my kids lol. I have the attitude that nothing is going to happen faster if I am impatient, in fact, things could end up going slower, so while I am waiting, I can watch the world go by and savour the little things, like the beetles crawling across flowers etc.
Life is too hectic to not take a few minutes to just wait and relax.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
16 Oct 08
I bet you are a patient person. With the kids around, doing everything and anything no way you cannot be. Even I love to watch the serenity and calmness of the nature. It tells so many things. And recharges us like anything.
Thanks for your beautiful response.
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
17 Oct 08
Oh yeah, kinda the same here. In normal circumstances I dont mind waiting for hours on end, just as long as I dont have to do something else. But whenever Im being pressured that I need something quick, then my patience can only go so much. Its just a matter of priorities like what your post says. We can wait a lifetime for something but our patience can wear thin in a second. Just depends on what we value more.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
18 Oct 08
Yeah, it comes down to that, our priorities. We can wait for hours for something we would want badly but get jittery on waiting for stuffs which we do not want.
Generally, I am more towards patience.
Thanks dear.
@myzonez (81)
• India
11 Oct 08
"Its easy to be angry. But its not easy to be angry to the right person at the right time and to the right degree".
So be patient. Patience doesnt come all sudden. You have to be patient to get patience. I mean, some people get angry when they see large ques. Some get angry when they are waiting for someone and the person is late, but doesnt even grumble when thay have to wait long ques for getting a movie ticket. So patience depends on the nature of the corresponding person.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
Very well said - I really appreciate. Patience begets patience and we must follow it in order to make others follow it.
Thanks for a great response.
@eshow1990 (98)
• China
11 Oct 08
i'm not a people with much patient.
sometimes if you keep me waiting for too long ,
i would get a little angry at first.
but overall,that's depends.
if the thing i'm waiting for is meaningful or attactive,
i may just waiting in a calm tate of mind.
of course ,i won't jump the queus.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
13 Oct 08
Yes if the fruit of the patience is sweet, why not?
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
13 Oct 08
I try my best to be patient, whenever a situation demands. I dislike standing in the queues or waiting in restaurants for my turn. I just avoid going to crowded places because sometimes I get jittery and lose patience. I can be patient upto an extent, thereafter I start losing my patience. However, I adopt a principle - when I land into such situations - [i]'Either change the circumstances or if you cannot adapt yourself, as per the circumstances'[/i]. If I see that I do not have any other alternative, I just stand patiently in the queue trying to pass my time - messaging or reading something. And when I see a possibility of me coming again to a particular place for getting my job done, I do not waste my time standing in a queue and come again for the work. 
Excellent Post!
Excellent Post!@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
That's justified and trust me most of us are like that. Little impatient when time demands. We, human, are atuned that way, I guess.
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
13 Oct 08
Im not patient enough i easily get irratated.But im trying to improe it somehow.
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
13 Oct 08
I am not a "patient" person even when I am a "patient" waiting to see the doctor....he..he...Well I dont like to keep any one waiting ,nor do I like to be kept waiting...But in today's hussle bussle,I have learnt to take patience in my stride,because it is fast becoming a necessity.
And I agree mimpi,my patience depends largely on the priorities of life...I am a very restless person by nature,and cannot sit idle for long..But you can see me standing "patiently" at various queues...in the department stores,in the traffic,in the bank,extending a helping hand to the needy and the deserving.
0ften we may have other errands to do ,and standing in a queue patiently needs lots of guts and determination,but then I immediately juggle my priorities and do the more urgrent tasks first....
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
15 Oct 08
patience is a virtue, a kid of meditation that makes us poised, calm and composed. It gives an inner peace, that's unmatchable. I wish we could practise it to get sanity i life.
Thanks for your nice response.
@xzg555898 (210)
• China
15 Oct 08
well,i do just like you ,and i think it is normal to many people .
take as an example ,when i am teaching ,i am being very patient ,beacause i take it as my responsibility,i must do this ,but when i am waiting for bus or waiting in restaurants,i will become weary
and the last sentence is perfect ,i like it hehe.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
16 Oct 08
See that's what I was trying to say. We all have our priorities and depending on those we seem to change our level of tolerance.
Thanks dear for your response.
