FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 - LOVE WINS

 FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 - LOVE WINS

Karen of "I want to talk to your manager" memes!!

Love is patient, love is kind

Let’s look at being patient - and anxious today.

How about a dictionary definition first:

“patience n. the quality of being able calmly to endure suffering, toil, delay, vexation or the like; sufferance. patient sustaining pain, delay, etc. without repining: not easily provoked,: persevering in long-continued or minute work: expecting with calmness.

Endure is a good word.  Can I endure hardship?  Can I endure suffering? Can I endure delays?

I am not always a patient person.  There are things I want ‘NOW’.  As I’ve aged, I think I’m getting more patient - so what, it is going to be another day before the car is fixed, so what, it is going to be next week when I get the results of my COVID test, so what this pandemic happened and I can’t get out and about as I would like.

In some respects, there are things I have no power over.  I can’t change anything but myself.  If my car needs another day in the shop, so-be-it - I can’t fix the transmission myself!!  If my COVID test (or COVID vaccine) is delayed - I can’t fix that.  There are things I can control and things I can’t.

Hmmm - I don’t want to spend the money on a new or newer car - make do with what I have.

I can ‘throw a fit’ and yell and scream at the car repair place.  I might get an answer like, “That part is being shipped from Detroit and should be here by next Wednesday”; or “I’m sorry, but there are ten cars currently in the shop and another ten in line for serving in front of your car on the list”.  I do know of some people that will yell and scream - “PUT ME AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE”, but generally does nothing but irritate the clerk taking your call.  Yes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil, but waiting and being patient is a form of love, that of being pleasant, and nice.  

“I’m sorry Ma’am, we can’t just move you to the front of the line”.  There is a meme going around about “Karen”, the lady who complains and asks to see the manager. (Some have viewed this “Karen” concept as a privileged white female, who somehow thinks she is better and more deserving than others).

*****

Some thoughts about being anxious from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/ways-to-reduce-anxiety 

1) Stay in your time zone.  Being anxious (and not being patient) is future-oriented.  I’m anxious about tomorrow, about getting my vaccination, about getting my next paycheck, about hearing from my friends. There are three ‘time zones’ - the past, the present, and the future.  The past is gone, the future is unknown and while I can prepare for the future, it is definitely not a certainty.  We have to live in the present.

2) Panic Attacks.  I haven’t had many panic attacks, but I have had a few.  Ancient man had two responses - fight or flee.  Can I win the fight?  There are fights I need to be in - ‘No, the government can’t take my house for non-payment of taxes.  I have paid my property taxes and I have my receipts.” (Note - I don’t always save my receipts - but it might be good for major things.  In general, if I use my credit card or checking account, there is a payment record someplace).

There are some fights that it is just folly to be in.  I got stopped for speeding 45-miles- an-hour in a 20-mile-an-hour zone.  There are those (Karens???) that might want to fight it.  “Hey there are a lot of speeders on <some other street> why did this cop pick on me and my street?” “I think the cop’s radar gun is faulty!!  I was going only 32 miles per hour!!” (still speeding, but the ticket will be less).

I did it, I screwed up (again), time to eat crow and pay the bill!!!  

3) Seeing the worst-case scenario.  Let’s look at an old (old) story.  “For the loss of a nail, the horseshoe came off; for the loss of the horseshoe, the horse couldn’t be in the battle; for the loss of the horse, the foes beat us in battle; for the loss of that battle, we lost the war!!”  (Wow - next time check the nails in your horse’s shoe!!)

Even if the probable case is bad, it is probably better to ‘face the music’.  Scenario, “Yes, officer, I had three alcoholic drinks; yes, I should not have been driving; yes, I deserve the ticket because my skills and reaction time are negatively impacted.” Yes, driving under the influence (or driving while intoxicated) fine is going to be a LOT higher than calling a friend, or a cab or Uber.  Maybe I will learn next time not to drink and drive!!!” 

And, maybe the worst-case scenario - I die.  (Not necessarily a pleasant thought).  I had a surgeon say I was lucky to be alive.  I’m over 70.  I see notices about stars, professional athletes, musicians - dying and many are younger than I am.  While I think I have value - death can come at any time - any place.  But, the best-case scenario is that I live many, many more greatly productive years, sharing love, wisdom, value, knowledge, joy, and happiness!!!  

*****

Love is patient, love is kind.  Yes, I live in a world that tends to be impatient.  If I set my cruise control at the speed limit on the three-lane Interstate-35 (about two blocks from my apartment), I'm probably the slowest vehicle on the road!!!  If I give myself five to ten extra minutes to get where I’m going, that’s great.  

Learning to be patient is not fun.  Learning to love all people is not fun.  Learning to smell the roses is great - and doesn’t take much effort!!!

See you tomorrow for a bit of a different story.  (I liked the Jigsaw Puzzle mystery, but I didn’t do a good job on it [yet]).  So, a new Saturday Story, then a Sunday Funday. 

Next week, some health trends for 2021!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Hugs!!!

Karen