Background photo by Sarah Shull
Thought for the Week
I have an impatience problem. No, scratch that, I don’t have an impatience problem, I’m actually quite good at it. My patience, on the other hand, could use some work. In fact, the number one thing I need to learn to be more patient about is learning to be more patient.
You know the old expression, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well?” Well, it’s true, but allow me to humbly add a second line: “And the more worth doing it is, the longer it will take.” In fact, the most worth doing things take a lifetime. And then some. When he received his Lifetime Achievement Oscar at age 85, Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, was genuinely confused, remarking, “But I’m still learning how to do this.”
I’d like to be a better writer, and a better filmmaker, and a better composer. And the “worth doing” factor only goes up from there. Even more desperately I want to be a better Listener. Friend. Husband. Father. Human being. True, I may not yet have arrived at “doing them well” by the day I die, but I’ll have arrived at doing them well-er. And I’ll have learned that:
The road to wisdom?
— Well, it’s plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less.
~Piet Hein*
So, whenever you’re discouraged, tell yourself, “T.T.T., things take time, and the most worth-doing things take the most time.” Then celebrate your milestones, no matter how small…
And keep on going!
~T.T.T.~
*Piet Hein was a Danish polymath (don’t try this at home) who invented a form of short, aphoristic poems called “grooks,” two of which are featured in this post.
Mitch Teemley 
Love this wisdom. To be a better me is always a good goal, so patience with self is always a good reminder.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly. My father had a prayer he’d say, “God grant me patience, and I want it right now.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yep, it’s a classic quip/truism.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patience is a virtue….but time is limited.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This is exactly where I am right now: “Patience is a virtue….but time is limited.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sadly it is the dichotomy of our time and all time. It will not change unless life length changes. So, we’re all subject to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an abridged version. Piet Hein’s original goes:
Put up in a place
where it’s easy to see
the cryptic admonishment
T.T.T.
When you feel how depressingly
slowly you climb,
it’s well to remember that
Things Take Time.
LikeLiked by 3 people
So inspiring post and thoughts!
Thank you so much for sharing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Joanna.
LikeLike
“thing I need to learn to be more patient about is learning to be more patient” You wrote this for me didn’t you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course. ;>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you want to shorten the time, you have to awaken your consciousness. Are you aware of when you become impatient? Do you recognize it when it raises its head or do you wait until it’s full-blown to acknowledge its presence? If you become impatient because you think that what you are striving for shouldn’t take this amount of time, you have underestimated the time it takes.
And differences in self-improvement are often incremental. When my students are frustrated with their progress, I tell them that taking a week between lessons allows me to hear the cumulation of those changes. Whereas they don’t see them from day to day because they are small. For instance, to improve your skills as a listener, you have to be “in the moment” when you’re listening. This has to be practiced.
If it were easier to become a better writer, composer, husband, friend…would the improvements be worth much? So once again, you must improve, first of all, your awareness. What do you do right? What needs improvement? What do you need in order to think deeper into your behavior? What do you need in order to understand the thoughts and connections you already have? Get deeper into your awareness and your consciousness will expand to include your audience, your family, your community, your beliefs.
If you would like to discuss this further, I have my hut on the top of the mountain. Bring hot cocoa.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Shouldn’t that be Yogi tea? ;>) Thanks!
LikeLike
So true! A dollop of inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mitch. I’ll remember the 3 T’s. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great message for those of us who like to rush to results! We reap what we sow and if we sow in a hurry, we get a sloppy crop. God bless, Mitch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too, Nancy.
LikeLike
Oh, God, give me patience and NOW, please! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I learn the neatest things over here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for this timely reminder. Not nearly enough Piet Hein quoted anymore. Or Ogden Nash, for that matter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree!
LikeLike
Pingback: Things Take Time – CURIOSIDADES NA INTERNET