I learned some time ago to wait my turn. That there are other things in people’s lives more important than me. It’s easy to feel like you are being helpful when you know that by stepping aside, you are allowing someone else to get on with it. Someone faster than you. I learned to make my point quickly and fight viciously against the clock. I learned to ask for what I wanted straight away or miss out. When I sit down to dinner, I eat the best bits first. There is only so much time left in life and who am I to decide how frequently, or infrequently time should be allocated to me? Why should I demand so much time of a person? So here I am, waiting patiently. Letting everyone else run around me living their lives. I can keep myself busy while I wait. Busy personifies so much of who I am these days. It is like cells, dividing and dying. Always rushing to a simple end and yet no further than when the process began. I learned that being visited at eight o’clock might actually mean 9 o’clock. And that the hour in between these two events is treading water. I can be busy for that hour. I can convince myself that I’m glad I had some extra time to do all those things I kept meaning to do. But after my hour of busying I am still at home, waiting to leave. And my time means nothing. But I wait patiently.
Lisa Jewell
Jo – this is incredibly true for most. There is a fine line between being patient and feeling disappointed….
Peter Davidson
wonderfully evocative glimpse of aging and the invisibility of old age.
Michelle Hogan
Yes Jo, I try and do this also. I’m 38 and find that with each year I gain a whole lot of patience, its the best part about getting older. There are so many other things in life that are far more serious than worrying about the little things : ) . Good on you!
John Robb
Beautifully written Jo.
Scott Ruhs
An amazing piece of writing here, Jo. You hit the nail on the head, and it was waiting patiently for the impact. You certainly provided that here. Wonderful, wonderful work!!
roybarry
Jo, this is quite, quite Brilliant, I love it.!
Mind you, I get really pissed when people turn up late or keep me waiting, patient, I ain’t!
Boadicea
The duality of it is masterful. Patience and impatience. Talk about passive aggressive. Describes my emotions perfectly when on hold for two hours waiting to speak to a damm phone company
aeris
Very nice Jo. I empathise with this a lot.
Holly Werner
Very well done and very true. Most of my life feels like waiting.
soos
This is great writing :)
MarkezzAckui ...
the hands of time….interesting writing