Patience is necessary for every life—every day

Lucky for Lucy and me, I learned patience early in life. I was the little sister with no seniority or clout, so I learned to wait and wait and wait. I’m the fourth of five girls, so patience was woven into my upbringing.

Last week I wrote about frustration, and this week offered more of the same, but I focused on the value and need for patience. My exasperation started with the solar TV remote not working. I charged it for a few hours, but no luck. On closer examination, I saw tiny teeth scratches around the power button. I looked at Lucy with contempt, and she looked up at me with little black innocent eyes. Her cuteness saved her again.

I proceeded to call Best Buy to get a replacement. The technician walked me through every possible solution, although I had tried the same things multiple times before calling. He needed the model and serial numbers, which I couldn’t see on the back of the wall-mounted TV, and the date of purchase, which I couldn’t remember.

After 45 minutes of investigation, he said I needed to call Samsung because Best Buy had no replacement remotes.

After two and a half hours on the phone with Samsung waiting for supervisor consults, multiple computer delays, and being placed on hold numerous times, they reluctantly agreed to send me a new remote. The representative said, “It will arrive in 14 to 20 days.”

My next practice in patience was on the phone with Medicare and Social Security, trying to change my Arizona sister’s address so she could receive a condenser and oxygen. It’s hard to explain, but the wait, transfers, and restrictions were ridiculous. All I can do is shake my head and wonder how anyone manages their benefits if they don’t have computer or phone skills or a dedicated advocate to ask questions and get answers.

I gave myself kudos for not giving up or hanging up. I said to myself several times, “Patience is a virtue.”

Mental wellness and appropriate adult behavior are complicated when simple tasks are difficult to impossible, partly because talking to a human is offered only as a last resort.

Closing with a quote from Billy Graham: “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.”

Isn’t that the truth? Patience is necessary for every life—every day.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Shout out to three local professionals for their patience making my new column photo a reality: Lucy’s skilled groomer, Tammy Brown, at Doggy Stylin; my magic hair-dresser, Amber Woolery, at Dark Rutes Salon; and our gifted and generous photographer Karen Burkholder at KB Photography.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.