Patience
The day today is opening into a beauty. The place is northern California, Berkeley - with a stop in Bolinas. Yes, it sounds backwards because Bo is northwest of Berk, but that's how things sometimes work. Temperatures are in the low 50's and everything feels fresh – spring has sprung. Today is Saturday.
The word "patience" came three day ago and it was set aside. Why? There was nothing to say about the word in the moment when the word showed up so rather than write about it, one had to BE it.
On this day, there is a little something in a reflection about this quality that many do not easily come to so it becomes part of the repertoire in life. It shows up in connection with the end of life experience with parents balancing their daily routines. It shows up when pacing tasks that need to be done and shared between people. It shows up in waiting for a child to "grow up" or a partner to develop a capacity to anticipate needs as opposed to resorting to having to ask.
Patience is a quality that, for most, has to be cultivated before it becomes cell memory or a habit that allows for a healthier and perhaps, happier existence. And of note is that we live in a time that actually does not encourage patience to be developed.
Everything seems geared for more and more speed, convenience, less consideration of others. One's habitual way of operating may work fine in the context of their individual lives; but thinking about their lives in relation to others' lives often is not considered at all. This is something everyone has experienced in the form of waiting for things to happen (as in seeds planted, yielding a bloom or fruit) or understandings to be reached (as in mediating a dispute so each side is able to get to common ground). Sometimes, one literally has to be patient in connection with waiting for someone to show up at an appointed time.
What happens when patience is required in any given situation? Some can fill the time - "Use time, don't be used by it!" (a valuable suggestion to avoid waste - even in time!). Some get annoyed and repeatedly look at their watch, or phone, knowing somewhere that this constant check on the time won't speed things up. Some might meditate, people watch, start to write a novel, do yoga, and a myriad of other things. Is this avoiding the practice of allowing patience to develop within one's set of skills in life?
How does it feel to be invited into a space of patience? Maybe there is frustration, leading to resentment; maybe there is joy because there is found time! Whatever the path to patience - it is a human quality that would probably contribute greatly to peace, both personal and societal!