We all tend to be in hurry. We have to hurry up and do this and hurry up and do that. Patience is not something that comes to us easily. When talking to patients, and their health issues, it is always the same thing: They want to be better yesterday! I am no different. We all want to do well and live our lives the best we can. We are not always in control though. Sometimes going slower can actually accomplish things faster. We can be more productive if we are not in a hurry, or we take the time to really think about it. That is what is so fun about taking pictures of the sunrise, or sunsets. You have to be patient. One minute is different from the next. It is always changing. Just when you thought it was about done, it changes, and looks even better than it did previously. Such is life. One moment we wonder how things could get any worse, and then wait a little bit, to find that things have worked out, and we are on to the next thing. Some things may take longer than others, but that truly is where patience comes into play.
We especially need to be patient when the going is hard and slow. We wonder if we are ever going to get through something, only to look back on it later and tell ourselves, “You know, maybe it was not so bad after all!” If we want to achieve something, we have to work at it. We all have goals, and if we work at it, it eventually is achievable. That does not mean we did not put a lot of work, effort, and sweat into it. But then all goals take effort, and that effort often times requires us to be patient.
Here is our run group from last weekend. Several of our usual runners were not there that day. Sarah, Jenn, and Paula have all been hurt, and are recovering. It takes patience. Many times, when we can’t run, patience is hard to find. Our body is telling us one thing, and our mind another. But we need both together to accomplish things, especially goals. Several people in this picture have reached what I will say is a marathon runners dream: to get to the Boston Marathon. Owen just found out his time from the Brookings Marathon earlier this year qualified him, and he will be running at Boston in April. Congratulations! For Erika and Tom, they have already run Boston in the past.
Erika and Tom, two seasoned running veterans who have both already run Boston. They have stories and experiences from that day. They have running stories in general from years of running. All that experience pays off in their daily lives as well. They did not get there right away either. Patience! I have been trying now for 29 years. Maybe someday as I get older it may be, but then maybe my qualifying days are done. That is ok too. I had a lot of fun over the years running, and I would not trade it for anything. There is always that elusive “Boston qualifying” goal that I have just never been able to achieve. So, when somebody truly gets a qualifying time, it is a huge accomplishment. It is most definitely one that took work, effort, mental power, and… patience!
The perfect picture! Patience…exercise…sunset…what better way to make a point! Patience truly is an exercise in self-control. We all need to learn to be patient, in all aspects of our life. “Good things come to those who wait!” How many times have you heard this phrase? Too many to count! So in these coming days, slow down. Pay attention to what is around you. Look at things differently, and it may amaze as to what you see.
These images, surroundings, things in our life have always been there, but we…I… have just been too busy to pay attention! Slow down! Pay attention! Take it all in. You don’t even know what you are missing when you are not even looking! It is time to have a new look with our eyes, to feed new thoughts to our brain, which can then translate new energy to our bodies as well. Learn to be patient and take the time to appreciate what you have accomplished. Know there is more to come, and that the effort will be worthwhile! Keep moving everybody and learn to be patient!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: # 980
