How many times in life are we excited to get somewhere only to realize we have to wait?
This is my whole life story, but I felt this even more acutely after a recent trip to Disney World. I had never been before, and to be honest, I did not have the most positive attitude upon embarking on the trip. My daughter, however, had been wanting to go for years and now she was 10; I figured better now than never. So we embarked on the journey to the world where “all your dreams come true.”
Once we arrived, I realized we weren’t the only ones attracted to this world of fun and imagination, leading me to a different reality.
The reality of waiting.
I realized although we had finally arrived at our destination after waiting for months, we had to wait everywhere we went, especially if you wanted to get on a well sought after ride.
Fast passes weren’t that fast (unless slow is fast).
From food to rides to bus transportation, patience was not only requested, but it was also required. In fact, our flight home was delayed almost 7 hours (that’s a blog post for another day).
This led me to think and be reminded LIFE CAN BE A WAITING GAME.
Whether it be waiting for the day to get your driver’s license, only to get in a wreck in your first year of driving (been there, done that). Waiting to graduate high school or college only to be quickly reminded of the responsibility that lies on the other side (paying bills, getting a job). Waiting to find love or have it find you, to realize it’s quite simple and complicated all at the same time (many heartbreaks later).
And all throughout the waiting, we are missing things.
We are missing now.
We are missing life.
So what are you missing out on right now, because you are waiting for something to get here or someone to arrive or change?
It’s okay to be in a season of waiting. They say the best things in life are worth waiting for. So while you are waiting, here are a few things to remember.
1. What matters most is now
We can’t go back and change yesterday and tomorrow will get here sooner than we think. We can only live now; we are not promised tomorrow. Wake up call? I know.
Look around you. What are the things you are thankful for? What things in your life do have you did not have before? What are things or people you would be devastated if they weren’t here tomorrow? What about today is special? If we don’t appreciate the now, it will be gone quicker than you think (like the blink of the eye quicker).
2. Stop worrying about things out of your control
It’s futile and produces nothing. I find this is the thing human beings struggle with the most: control and worry. And I’m no exception. I know this is easier said than done.
- Think about the things in your life you actually have control over. Write them down.
- Now think about the things in your life you don’t have control over. Write those down.
Which list is bigger? I’m betting it’s the things you don’t have control over. We often have a false sense of what we actually control. Once you distinguish the two, call yourself out when you are worrying about things out of your control. Shift your focus to the things you can control.
One of the best books I’ve read on this is Man’s Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl. In his book, he talks about response-ability. We can’t always choose the challenges life throws at us, but we have the ability to choose how we will respond.
3. Pay attention to the things and people you encounter while waiting
When we actually slow down and look around, we can meet people we have never met or things we have never seen. We are in an age where we look at screens more than human beings. Being forced to wait gives you the opportunity to build connections. During 7 hours of being stuck in an airport, I met some pretty cool people. I would have never met them had I not been waiting.
Next time you’re waiting, pay attention to those around you. You never know, your next opportunity could be the next person or thing you encounter.
4. Waiting is a growth opportunity
I have learned more about myself when I have been forced to wait. Whether it be patience, persistence or flexibility, waiting helped me develop the skills or character traits I needed for what was coming up next (even though I didn’t recognize it then).
Disclaimer: Growth is not always pleasant or easy, but it can be worth it.
Ask yourself, what do I need to learn or develop in this season of waiting? You may just need it when the waiting is over.
BE INSPIRED
What have you learned while waiting? Comment below.
