Perfectly Imperfect

While watching the Netflix TV series Bridgerton, I got an amazing reminder about the art of patience. The “Aha” moment occurred when Ms. Marina Thompson and Penelope were discussing about Marina’s gentleman friend, George, from back home. While he was abroad fighting in a war against Spain, she had written a letter to him about her pregnancy and was anxiously awaiting a response.

It got me thinking to back in the 1800s when letters were still transported by horse, train, or ship, people had to wait weeks, if not months to receive a letter! Think about how much patience people not only had in the mailman to deliver the letter, but also in the letter recipient to write a response and mail another letter back!

Now that we live in a very technologically based society, waiting to receive a letter in the mail feels like three lifetimes have been lived. Receiving an immediate response to a text message, email, or even a phone call has fogged reality’s lenses because we rely so heavily on immediate gratification! When we send text messages or emails, we expect the recipient to immediately respond, and if the response doesn’t occur within our desired time frame, the ego takes a hit. Then almost immediately, self-doubt, shame, and embarrassment freely take over. I ask you to challenge that way of thinking! Take a long, deep breath, and ask yourself if receiving a response right that moment is truly life or death dependent.

In what areas of your life can you practice the art of patience? Perhaps it is with your partner, coworker, children, or even yourself.

Bridgerton reminded this millennial that life isn’t about receiving an immediate response. Just because I feel like or expect something to happen right now, doesn’t mean it will. Life has never been that mainstream. To become successful in anything whether it may be weight loss, new job, training your new pup, or even starting a business you must be patient. It’s learning to take that healthy step back, release the need for control, and become even more disciplined even when you aren’t seeing immediate results. Become comfortable with being uncomfortable because sometimes no response is in fact the best response. Believe that one day, as Joel Osteen says, you will be catapulted ahead.