Patience is a Virtue

Being a mostly impatient sort, I've heard that old saying all my life. Especially from my aunt, who early on appointed herself chief maker and enforcer of my moral code. Luckily for me, my mother didn't often agree with her in matters of child rearing.

Patience is a virtue.

The only patience I ever knew for a long time was Patience Powers, who was anything but virtuous. I might or might not have learned some a few things from her. Just sayin'.

Patience is a virtue.

Then I grew up. Adulthood. Oh, no! What do I do? I'm supposed to have all the answers. Not. Not only not a clue, but I'd never even heard most of the questions I was supposed to have answers to. People had PATIENCE with me. Live-In Handyman could tell you tales, but we're not going down that road.

Patience is a virtue.

One day I realized I was supposed to write down all the stories and characters that had always filled my head. Hello! So I wrote. And rewrote. And learned. And learned more. And rewrote. One day I sent off a short story.

After a mis-step or two dozen, I realized I needed something. Patience.

Patience in everything connected with this new endeavor. Researching. Plotting. Writing. Rewriting. Editing. Submitting. Waiting....

Patience with myself. Patience with others. Patience with the process.

Patience is a virtue.

I wonder whatever happened to Patience Powers?

I wonder if my aunt was able to see this far down the road of my life?

I wonder if patience is a virtue or a vice?

Patience is a virtue.

Comments

Mason Canyon said…
Patience in general, I'm not. Somethings I can be patience with and some I can't. Not sure what that says about me. I am the least patience with myself. Have a great Labor Day.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I really loved reading this. I can be a pretty patient person. Except on the road with people who don't need to be driving. Or people in a grocery store taking up the entire aisle while wandering up and down it. Or with computers. And satellite/cable.
Hmmm, maybe I need to rethink whether or not I'm patient. At all!

Have a great week!
Jan Morrison said…
Yes, patience. I'm considered highly impatient by those close to me except for my clients who think I'm most patient! I think patience is a virtue and can be developed. And I'll get right on to that!
Jan Morrison
Terry Odell said…
As someone who wants things resolved "NOW", patience is something I've had to learn in the writing business. Glaciers outrun the publication process.

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
I'm patient in some areas and very impatient in others. I don't think growing up helped much, either!
Laura Eno said…
Patience? Is that a real word in the dictionary or just in scrabble?
Jackee said…
I hear ya! I'm really trying to focus on enjoying this publishing journey rather than getting impatient for the end result. I mean, I am still waiting on fulls accepted in February. It's hard!

Great to find you at Karen's BBQ. LOVE, love your Tiki Hut photo! :o)

Cheers,
Jackee
Unknown said…
Yes, you do need patience to survive the writing game.
CD
Candyland said…
Ugh I hate that phrase!!! I've never had patience so my virtues must be lacking!
Carol Kilgore said…
Mason - I am most impatient with myself, too.

Words Crafter - Yes, impatient in those areas, too.

Jan - I have patience with small children and animals. I need to get right on the rest, too.

Terry - I've had to learn patience with the entire writing/publication thing. I'm better. Much better, actually. I'm great at the "hurry up" part. And I've learned to use the "wait" part to plan ahead for the "hurry up" part.

Alex - Growing up didn't help much here either :(

Laura - I don't know :)

Jackee - Thanks. Loved the BBQ. I hope you'll visit here often.

Clarissa - Truer words were never written.

Candyland - I have no virtue either.
Elspeth Futcher said…
Being one of the most impatient people in the world, I have decided it is my life's great irony that I have found myself in the writing world. I try to find it funny. Usually I don't succeed.
Elana Johnson said…
I've really been working on my patience. I find it's hard, but definitely worth having.
Southpaw said…
Virtue I think, but boy it's a hard one to master.
Carol Kilgore said…
Elspeth - Why is it all us impatient types are in a business that requires maximum patience?

Elana - Same here.

Holly - Yes.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the writing world, it’s that patience is essential to keep from growing crazy while you wait, wait, wait at every step in the process.
Patience is a virtue AND a vice depending on which side of patience you are on.

Teresa
Writer said…
Hi Carol,
This post is so right on. I used to be very impatient but time has helped me learn this virtue. It's difficult but attainable ;)
VR Barkowski said…
Sometimes I'm patient, sometimes not, but I do believe patience is a virtue. I think many times folks mistake apathy and/or ennui for patience, and that's how it gets a bad name.
Carol Kilgore said…
Jane - Exactly!

Teresa - Will you be the Tiki Hut's resident philosopher? I'll work up an offer :)

Claudia - Attainable ... gonna remember that. Thanks.

VR - I think you're correct.
Aubrie said…
Boy, patience is one of the things I'm still working on after all these years. It's hard. Very hard.
Helen Ginger said…
Patience, it seems to me, is a necessity. Young children don't have patience, but it's something you have to develop as you grow up.

Helen
Patti Lacy said…
Patience and its sister, perseverance, sure get a lot of ink in the Bible.

Believe it's them!!

Blessings, dear one.
Patti
Manzanita said…
Is it still a virtue if I throw in a few choice swear words? But of course, along with the patience.

Let's see, Patience Powers....I think she went into a nunnery in the South of France. :)

Kidding aside.... interesting and enjoyable post. Thanks
Manzanita
Carol Kilgore said…
Aubrie - I agree.

Helen - Working on it. I'm way better than I used to be.

Patti - I have plenty of perseverance. I think I stood in that line twice.

Manzanita - You gotta be kidding - Patience in a nunnery? I can see it now. Love it - thanks!
Anonymous said…
I still like the quote from the Mummy when Evey tells O'Connell that patience is a virtue and he responds with, "Not right now it isn't." Given the horde had just broken down the doors and they were about to die, it seems an apt comment.
Manzanita said…
I remember those days can be kinda "crazy-making." But you blink and they're behind you.

I like the one about the silence. As the door closes, waves of silence hit your ears. Can be almost a little scary. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Maybe a teeny bit on the first day or two.

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