Patience is something

I need....in abundance at times.

I've always been a person who likes to be going and doing. I love being with people. I love shopping. I love spontanaety. I often suffer from impulse decisions. I don't like waiting. But waiting for something usually makes the actual aquisition more meaningful, or helps you to eventually realize it is something you don't really need.

I recall being at a Yakima Indians baseball game as a child. There was a girl and her father who sat near my family. This little girl asked for something every 5 minutes in a whiny tone. Every sentence started with the words "I want.....popcorn" or "I want.....licorice" or "I want a hot dog" and well, you get the idea. She said this phrase so often that my parents and I started calling her the "I want" girl, a nickname that we still use today when we discuss things that we might want or think we need. "You sound just like the 'I want' girl" is a common phrase, especially familiar to me every time I went to the mall with my mother, or when making a Christmas list.

To quote the Beatles, "You can't always get what you want." As a child, this sounded very unfair, but now I realize that what I think I want and what I really need are two completely different things. One of my favorite television shows as a child was Fantasy Island. People would come to the island to have one of their deepest wishes or wants granted, but the results of these wants were usually not what the wisher had intended. So is it like for us. If I want something, I can get it instantly with my credit card, but the consequences of using credit cards are felt much longer than the rush of the actual purchase. This "I want" syndrome has gotten me into some situations over the years that I'm not very proud of, but I was able to dig out of said situations and realize that I really don't want to suffer from a case of the "I wants" and am now much happier saving for the things I really want vs. buying them immediately. The "I wants" don't just apply to shopping. It pretty much applies to anything that we get without putting in any effort. It feels meaningless and empty.

Back to patience......I loved the talk in church yesterday about patience. When we attain our goal by saving money, avoiding that cookie or being obedient, the outcome feels earned. Patience really boils down to having self discipline in whatever area we might struggle in.

I love talks that give me an "a-ha" moment! Patience and self-discipline bring true happiness where instant wish gratification does not.

Okay....I'm stepping off my soap box. I hope all of you have a great day!