"Patience" - Thought for the day.....

Good am all! PATIENCE Often times in our WLS journeys we are "waiting" at some point whether it be for a doc's apppointment to discuss our WLS options, the jumping through hoops to get us prepared for "the date" consisting of tests, pokes, proding, weigh ins, letters from this doc & that and more, to getting the date, to preparing for everything in between and there comes many times when PATIENCE is certainly nerve wrecking and we become frustrated and even upset and probably experience every emotion we have. Then, we hear "have patience!" We get to thinking "I'll show you how to have some patience!" We've ALL been there in many situations trying to find PATIENCE.  Scenarios: You're rushing through chores and you drop a plate, bowl or glass and it shatters all over the kitchen floor and your lunch plans are in 10 minutes. How will you make it on time?  You're rushing through you work day and you are just about to send an important email or document or report and dontcha know the computer freezes up and poof its 20 to 5 and you have to pick the kids up from daycare and get dinner on the stove and be to soccer practice or football practice in an hour. How will you get that email, document or report out and get the kids and get dinner on the table and get to practice on time? You're in a time crunch and you've not eaten much today and you are on the run and you see several places to stop and grab something to eat. There is a gas station fully stocked with the latest and greatest "snack" foods and they even have a hot bar with lunches available. Then there is a Wendy's or Arby's of what have you along with other choices. Again, you are racing through your day and want to grab something quick.  You opt for some "quick fixes" such as a protein bar that LOOKS healthy and water that's flavored and then you run to the hot bar and ask for the special which LOOKS like baked chicken with veggies and that glorious roll on the side. You're back in your car and eating in it while trying to reach you next destination. Your chicken is not baked but fried and is dry to boot, the sides are mac & cheese and talk about clogging an artery and the roll you think "I'll just have a bite!"  Instead of having patience to stop, calmly think about your choices, make the "good" choices and move on with your day, you're now feeling incredibly full, maybe even a little sick and you are losing your stamina and are feeling upset and panic set in because you've still got so much to get done. Complaining to others around may make you feel better at the time but unless you're explaining why clearly and rationally and with patience others will not understand and therefore cannot offer up healthy, winning solutions to your problems. Venting anger and frustration might feel good in the moment but then the problems end up right back where they started and you'll be left feeling even more overwhelmed! You've got choices just as we do during our WLS process as we do in our everyday lives. Patience and understanding works together to solve our problems. You can choose to get upset, making solving the situation worse and take longer or you can choose to remain calm, understand that things happen, find patience and come up with a good solution to resolve these issues.  So, while you are cleaning up the broken dish you are calling your dinner friends letting them know you're running a little later but you'll be there and you reboot your computer and while you're waiting for it you make a few calls to see if a trusted friend, bf, husband, sister etc can swing by and grab the kids or get the dinner started taking some pressure off you to get your evening going so you make practice on time. When you are opting to be on the run and their are time constraints plan ahead, take food and beverage items with you that you KNOW are healthy, pack a mini cooler before you walk out the door with your protein drinks, vitamins, a couple bottles of water, a healthy meal and other things so you won't feel rushed. Patience is key!

Very good point!  I am a very impatient person...I like the instant gratification and just do not have the time to deal with a bunch of stupid stuff to get to where I want....or so I think - haha We all go into this adventure with deadlines and goals in mind, and when we don't meet them, we do not undertsand.  The problem is is that most of it is unrealistic or out of our controll.  Here is where patience really comes into play. I cannot tell you the number of times I have beat myself up over what I cannot do, instead of focusing on what I can do...again...patience....... So...great topic, and one for the old thinker.......

Hi KAt,   Thank you for reminding me about being patient. In two days I will have to practice being a patient, patient. Wait for healing; wait for the pain meds to kick in; wait for the nurse to bring me something; wait for the release to return to normal routine.     THrough prayer this patience will come. Peace, CIndy