I thought this was an interesting idea from James Clear. I had never considered patience as an active word. I guess I saw it as a passive waiting for something I wanted. Yet this thought conveys the idea that patience is exercising positive thoughts concerning what may well be a difficult situation.
The situation may not have changed but I have. Patience is not about spuing negativity as perhaps it once was a “go to” response, but about believing for the best, and praying for it though the situation has not visibly changed. "My personal rule is that it's a good idea to be patient as long as I'm in the mix. If I'm taking action, putting in my reps, and trying things out, then I should remain patient and see what opportunities arise. But if I'm not taking action consistently, then I'm not practicing patience. I'm just waiting." To me just waiting has minimal positive impact. It may be positive in that in the past waiting entailed making matters worse, but even just doing nothing does not generally help – either myself or the one I am wanting the best for. Instead I totally believe patience is a doing word. Despite how dire a situation may be, I want my roll to make a positive difference. On a couple of occasions I have had to exercise patience in the face of what looked to be unchanging. I for one have seen changes that have blown me away. Changes that took years to happen but happened seemingly in an instant. In all cases it has been a case of active patience. Not trying to force change or simply my will on a matter. Changes that liberated. Changes not built on “I have no choice” but changes built on “I choose to.” For sure patience is not easy but needing it is something for everyone. To me doing it the right way helps a lot.
0 Comments
Yesterday was my day off. I generally do something around the yard that day. Both Merril and I had things we wanted to get done that were important to us both.
Merril spent the day fixing chairs. I undid the screws and she attached the material. While she did that I did something I had avoided for months. Attended to the wood pile. The pile had been there over 10 years. Dad and I had put the frame together and put wood on as well as bricks and iron and any materials thought to be worth holding onto. Things I thought “I may use on day.” Some material had been used but the pile had become a mess, an eye-sore and was falling apart. I ended up sorting the wood into several piles. Stuff I was going to keep, stuff that was good that I no longer wanted (which was taken down the front under a sign “give away”, rubbish stuff to go to the dump and stiff we may use to build a screen. The metal was going to the dump and the bricks I have saved and placed into storage. It was a big job. Merril and I will do our first dump run this morning. It is one of probably three. I am pleased at what has been achieved. It really is the start of the development of an area which will house fruit trees. I see it as a four stage project. Clearing the area, trips to the dump, preparing for planting, and planting. A start has been made. I actually got to meet one of the neighbours. She was from a house containing people we have never met that backs onto our place. I heard a small voice say hello. She looked Vietnamese and told me she was 86. She also said she does not speak a lot of English. That I believe as I hardly understood a word. But meeting her was a bonus as far as I am concerned. We pray for them regularly as “the people we don’t know.” I was ready to give it away due to rain but when I came in it did not last long and did not rain again. Also I had avoided the area as I did not know what kreepy crawlies might be there. Turned out I saw one large spider and a number of lizards and worms. I can handle worms for sure. Merril finished her task late in the day. A hard days work for us both but one that was totally worth it. Merril and I went to a number of places during the day yesterday, and I heard what is a common expression that got my attention like never before.
“I don’t care.” To me that sounds simple enough and harmless – but I reckon it is anything but harmless. It made me think “that really is one of the reasons things have gone downhill in the world.” That sounds pretty dramatic but the reason why I think that has to do with another common saying. I paraphrase it. “The way for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” It seems to me one of the markers of our age is for many with unconventional thoughts to speak very loudly and get their way. It also seems common for many, often a majority, not to agree with what is being promoted, but to do nothing. The upshot is mankind has gotten a world of violence and lack of care about the consequences for others, because good men did nothing. “I don’t care” may not have been stated, but it has been enacted. I know I have taken refuge in knowing I could vote in what I liked. Except it is becoming more and more obvious to me that the noose is tightening, and that that option appears to be on the way out worldwide. Regimes in power are declaring what people can think, eliminating opposition and punishing non-conformers. One “I don’t care” alone is seemingly inconsequential, but to me mass apathy is leading to mass repression. So often it seems that when someone declares “I don’t care” they really do care. But it is an “I don’t care” meaning I really do care, but not enough to do anything. Hence a mass “do nothing” has meant a hijacking of causes by those who think the opposite to what may be the views of the inert majority. As I say, it sounds dramatic, but the consequence is personal to the level of “what can I do?” Change to me is wrought one at a time, and right now I am the one. |