Patience

It's cliche, all the sayings I found online. It feels a bit false to intentionally set out to write about patience for some reason. It's one of those saintly virtues that you can never have enough of. No matter how old I get there seem to be ongoing lessons and opportunities regarding patience. I'll start with the dictionary definition, that usually assists in providing clarity and being sure I'm on the same page with myself.  

1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like.
2. the ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.
3. quiet, steady perseverance, even-tempered care, diligence

The patience I'm investigating is related to the 3rd definition above. There's a saying in AA "Give time time."  I guess that's what it comes down to. My challenge is the awareness to apply the concept of patience in ALL areas of my life, minute by minute. When it comes to friends, acquaintances, my significant other and especially myself. I'd like to blame it on the culture or habits imposed by environmental factors but, frankly, it's a choice in each moment.  

Lately I've noticed a lack of patience regarding creation of new, healthier personal habits around exercise and eating. I hate to bore you, I realize this is repetitious.  I'm boring myself actually but apparently I have to get to a pain point which includes being sick of dealing with it before I actually create meaningful, lasting change.  I've been trying to reduce my distractions and allow for a single focus on these two topics.  That has't been all that successful, holidays and all!  So, now, my efforts are redoubled and I WILL read, think, learn, explore and experiment with these topics a REALLY, REALLY LOT.  I can't honestly say exclusively but my plan is to READ all the books I've gotten.  Commit to spend the time necessary to actually research and understand a specific diet or exercise program.  My days of whimsy are done... my multi tasking half-assedness needs to take a vacation for the next... month, say?  OK, one month.  Tomorrow is the 15th so starting tomorrow my spare time choice of things to do and focus on will ALL be related to food and/or exercise. I realize I have no control over much of anything, but I can be patience and persevere in this for 30 days.  Off the hook officially February 15th, right after Valentine's day.  This time includes deciding for sure if I'm doing the Camino de Santiago in the Spring!  Onward & Upward!!

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