Waiting

    I hate waiting. I mean, why should we still have to wait in this our generation? We are the NOW generation, aren't we? We shouldn't and yes we are. However, I don't think life got the memo. It still forces that bitter pill called waiting, down our throats. As a child, I kicked and fussed and threw tantrums but the older I've gotten, the more I've realised how important and critical it is to take that wait pill. Its still bitter and I still hate it, but I have definitely found that most times, greatness/success can only come after an intensive period of waiting.


Waiting for the kettle to boil, (or for my train to arrive, or for the plane to take off) still annoys the hell out of me and probably will till the day I leave this earth. Nonetheless, I really do believe that there are certain moves/decisions that we take, that can ONLY prosper after we have waited. Please stay with me. You see, waiting helps us put things in perspective. It also forces you to think that next move through, thoroughly. One reason I believe so many people failed is because, they thought of something, great idea, planned it, and jumped into it.
Like the oven bakes the cake, so do our minds need time to bake our next moves. Most times, many of us are forced into the waiting room by life and we have absolutely no option but to wait in there. What you do in that waiting room will determine whether you step out into greatness or mediocrity. I walked into a hospital waiting room and sat down. I like to observe people so it didn't take long before I discovered something. Everybody in the room was waiting for something, but waited very different. Some people(myself included) sat down, looking very bored. Some people were flicking through the old magazines put there by the hospital, mainly to pass the time. Some people were doing what I suppose is their work. Some were reading books they brought along and finally some people were pacing the room.

Me in that waiting room that day, really did help me picture life's waiting room in my head. Life WILL put you into that room at one point or another and what you do in that room determines how you come out or what happens when you come out. The wisest people or the group of people I wish I was amongst in that waiting room were the people doing work or reading. The people pacing represent the people who hate waiting. They just want to be out of that room. Whether they are stepping out to hear good news or bad news. Success or failure. They hope its success, but waste their time in the waiting room, pacing. Instead of praying and working.

Here's another perspective. Most times, that waiting room is not a room but an awning. Still exposing us to the harsh winds. In waiting places like this, the people are all forced to stand and find better shelter. Waiting places like this represent strong adversities that beset some people while they wait. Maybe that's why these people from this waiting place tend to be the most successful. Afterall, adversity really is the foundation of success. Successful and inwardly beautiful people do not just happen. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross told us in,

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Back to my example of the oven. That's another waiting place and its hot. Very hot. Here, you just have to go through that painful process but when you come out, you will be complete and ready.
  
    "Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right.”-Sherrilyn Kenyon

In conclusion, If your waiting room is a nice room like the hospital, it is still a waiting place, so get to work. If your waiting place is an awning, stand. If your waiting place is the oven, persevere. I'm sure there are thousands of other types of waiting places, however, whatever place you're in, instead of kicking and fussing, allow life put that pill in your mouth and although its bitter, swallow it. It'll make you better.

Yours sincerely,
Dárà Rhodes. X