DAY 34 - PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

Day 34

I hate waiting! As you can imagine, line ups are particularly painful for me. So many times, I will literally alter my plans so I don’t have to suffer this extended period of immobility.

If I’m at the supermarket, I hold myself back not to help people ahead of me empty their basket. In my car, when in traffic, I sometimes picture myself with a rocket strapped onto my back flying over all those metal boxes and sticking out my tongue like an immature child at all the people who unknowingly contributed to my frustration.

Living in the city is definitely a stress-inducing ordeal. All studies with rats conclude that a minimal amount of living space is necessary for peace of mind. The truth is not all of us have the desire to move to a place where living space is not an issue. The city offers much more than just concrete and overcrowded venues. It has a soul that its lovers deeply cherish.

So, what should we do when confronted with the unavoidable vagaries of urban life. Whether you’re late for work or simply waiting impatiently to get back home, in your car, on the bus or on the metro, there are plenty of possible distractions: listening to music or the radio, reading, singing, etc.

It is more challenging to go through the supermarket experience on a Saturday afternoon without coming back home with an increased stress level. I have found planning my weekly meals, observing and imagining the life of people around me or simply socializing with someone next to me who seems interesting, are helpful ways to forget about my annoyance with the situation.

No matter if it is at the doctor’s office, the supermarket or the restaurant, when line ups are unavoidable, you’re better off trying to preoccupy yourself with something else than the never ending stream of people in front of you! Time will then seem to pass faster and you might even catch yourself fall into a state of contentment.