The Wait of it All

Five minutes go by, ten minutes go by, fifteen minutes go by. Unaware of how much time has passed, he waits. He never moves. He never flinches. My cat just waits. Twenty minutes goes by and BOOM! An unfortunate chipmunk crosses his path and success, he’s got it! My cat Ringo is a fine example of what it means to be patient. I use this example with my six year old niece. With a little practice we can all get better. Here are a few tips: 1. Wait Constructively: If my niece gets impatient, I encourage her to do something while she waits. She may go to draw a picture or play with her toys. Instead of getting anxious about the situation, go find something constructive to do. 2. Move Your Body: If I notice I’m getting anxious or frustrated, it means I have excess energy. I need to find a way of exerting that in order to feel better. Go for a bike ride or take a walk. The fresh air and sunshine will do you good. 3. Take A Breath: I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves waiting in line lately. Instead of getting frustrated, take some deep breaths. It’s a great time to calm the body and the mind. It really all depends on our attitude towards the situation. Whether you’re waiting in line or waiting in traffic, we’ve all been there. It’s an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. Life won’t always go your way. Take an example from Ringo and be patient. He doesn’t worry if the chipmunk gets away from time to time. His patience usually pays off and it can for you too. It just takes a little practice.