I would define myself as a person with ’0′ – Yes ZERO patience. I mean, really I have very little patience but I know I am not the worst that is out there but have seen worse and I certainly fall in the bad category!
I would not call myself an old person but more like a 30′ish person, so you can figure out for yourselves how much of a life experience I have. Hey but whatever I have is better than nothing!
So all my life (till now) I have made quick decisions (thankfully only a few that I regret) and also a very short-tempered person, so all these things add up to create a perfect mixture for disaster.
Personally this has not got me in any serious trouble except a few times where I was able to resolve things amicably. If you are a realistic and rational person you should be able to keep minimal conflicts between your friends and relatives. The most important fact to remember is that you can never please everybody!
A big change in my patience was brought about by the birth of my son. The times I have spent with him till now has helped me develop my current level of patience but honestly, its not been easy.
Professionally, nothing serious but the urge to say ‘Screw you’ has been tremendous several times. Though I have been fortunate to have many seniors who are reasonable, rational and realistic; it’s not always been the case. Even though the work experience has been rather short (comparatively) I have had the privilege to work with the most outstanding to the most idiotic people. The reason I still have a job is because of advice from my family, close friends and colleagues. They have helped me suppress the urge that I have mentioned in the beginning of this para.
If you really want to survive in this world with the single life you have then there are going to be times when you will have to hear it through one and let it out through the other. What I just told you completely contradicts one of my principles, that is if someone speaks stupid/irrational stuff, then you must speak out against it. But Ear-In/Ear-Out is a critical tool to survive. To push the envelope of survival tactics there are going to be times when you will have to say ‘I agree’ or something similar!
I have a colleague who from what I have seen is the most patient person. It do not matter what or how the other person says, his response is always the same i.e., calm, composed and rational. He is honest, diligent and a very sincere worker but there have been instances when management has been indifferent towards him! When I asked him why he never bothers letting them know that what they are saying is ‘not right’ he said his intended is to earn a living and not to teach the management on what is right and what is wrong. He said he never aspires to be in management as he knows the dirty politics that you need to be involved in to stay there and that he does not want any of it! He has managed to survive for so many years based on just the fact that he has patience to see things through.
Since changing my point of view I too have been able to see a lot of otherwise ‘crap’ in a better light. Patience is indeed a virtue and something you are going to need in truck loads if you are going to raise a family, or if you have a desire to work your way up the career ladder.
Have patience and better things await you past the horizon!
