Tuesday 30 September 2008

Serious question



Why is so much of life spent waiting ?

Any tips for developing that quality of patience that seems to have passed me by?

I could elaborate, but I don't want to wait a moment longer for your replies.

19 comments:

Leigh Russell said...

Now I'm cheating pathetically, entering a comment myself. If only it were as easy to elicit replies from other people. (Join the dots to work out what I'm waiting for... answers can be sent out attached to a helium balloon. See how far they get. I bet none of them land in my back garden.)

Leigh Russell said...

Does anyone else feel as though they're going slowly (?) insane, waiting.

Charles Gramlich said...

"Hello!" Anyone there?

There certainly is a lot of waiting in the world. Imagine the time spent waiting in lines, waiting for gas, waiting for food. Time time time

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I hate waiting for anything and have the patience of a gnat. Do gnats have patience? Not sure.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Sorry, that really wasn't very helpful at all, was it?

Leigh Russell said...

Yes it was, Debs. Strange but true. As for Charles Gramlich, I agree. I think the only people doing well out of our society must be the phone companies. How much time to we spend on the phone, listening to someone else's piped music, waiting for someone. Anyone.

Marcie Steele said...

I'm playing the waiting game too Leigh and I hate it...I don't think there is anything worse and I'm sorry I have no idea how to help!

Eryl Shields said...

I once walked into town with my three year old niece, for me it's a ten minute walk, it probably took twenty with her in tow. Anyway, every thirty seconds or so she asked 'how much further?' and I answered, truthfully, 'not long at all.' By the time we got there I was worn down by her questions and dreaded the walk back. We did what we had to do, which was fine, and as we began to walk home she asked 'how much further?' and I answered 'miles and miles, it will take us ages.' She looked horrified, but never asked that question again, and instead happily trotted along beside me pointing out oddities. And when we got home she said 'we're home! You said it would take ages.'

I don't know if that helps.

BernardL said...

The only thing I know of capable of easing the chore of waiting is always having something else to do. In writing, if I'm constantly working and finishing new projects, while waiting for query responses, I don't think about the time. In the mechanical world, patience is supremely important. Repairing broken vehicles requires order, and impatience is chaos. :)

Leigh Russell said...

l-plate author - it is comforting to know there's others out there. I hope your wait is over soon with good news!

eryl - I love that story. Reading it certainly helped to pass a little time enjoyably.

Bernardl - "impatience is chaos" Oh dear! No wonder my life is so disorganised... But you're absolutely right. Planning and quiet preparation is the key to so much, in writing as in life. Easy to say. I'm still working on trying to achieve a modicum of success in curbing my impatience. Not easy.

The World According To Me said...

Arr, the waiting game. How long it seems to last! I love my life but I am still waiting for a fair few things to happen, changes to be made. So my advice to you? Erm...enjoy the time in between? Think of it as the beginning of the next chapter of your life, rather than the waiting game. That probably doesn't help at all. But I tried.

Middle Ditch said...

Brrrrrrrrrrrr, I'm getting cold with just the thought.

Don't wait, get on with whatever you are doing. Waiting is wasted time.

I have waited countless times in A&E with a very accident prone daughter and I learned patience there.

Do some knitting, that makes your mind rest. It's very relaxing and you can also plot a bit more.

lol

Leigh Russell said...

world according to me - yes, of course it helps. I feel a reassuring sense of camaraderie with all those in waiting (I was going to say waiters but that's not quite right - I've worked as a waitress...)

middle ditch - my family would never forgive you for that suggestion. I did take up knitting once and they ended up begging me not to make them any more scarves, funny shaped hats, weird kind of mittens (never graduated to gloves)...

writtenwyrdd said...

Finding something else to do; that's the ticket! Fix you right up, or at least temporarily distract you from the anticipation/ waiting.

Josephine Damian said...

Going insane waiting? Are you kidding! I've got so much going on - juggling so many things - I can barely keep all the balls in the air.

Time is flying! Deadlines and events are coming at me at terminal velocity speed.

You want to not feel the wait? Stay busy.

Leigh Russell said...

I'm constantly busy, working on two novels (the current & the second of the three I've signed up for) plus teaching full time. It makes time pass quickly, but the waiting still lurks in the back of my mind...

Leigh Russell said...

Blogging helps, of course.

writtenwyrdd said...

focus on another project is the best advice I've heard. Fingers crossed for ya.

Leigh Russell said...

thanks writtenwyrdd - but it's hard, typing with your fingers crossed!