On Waiting

We wait to be called on in class because it's the code of conduct. We wait for tea to steep because we look forward to that first soothing sip. We wait to be seated for dinner because it's 8:45pm and we've grown increasingly hungrier. We wait for the train that is always late to arrive because it's an inevitable part of our commute. We wait for the person on the other end of the line because we want and need to communicate.

For the optimistic at heart, waiting can create a healthy eagerness and an excitement. It can inspire us to move forward and allow us to embrace the journey. And even if the desired result isn't met, we are still grateful for the gift of time. In waiting, we gain a greater sense of self-awareness and perspective.

For others, the process of waiting can spur anxiety. We're in a hurry to anticipate what's next. We fill our time with pondering the possibilities. Sometimes, worry sets in for the unknown, and waiting begets impatience and frustration. The journey feels less fruitful and we become mired in fear for things that have yet to pass.

Waiting can be a choice or an infliction. Sometimes, we wait for something (or someone) that never comes because we are inherently hopeful creatures. We wait because it's the natural order of things.