I think maybe the cure for impatience may be unrelenting, unavoidable, and consistent obstacles to progress. For me frustrated impatience comes when unexpected obstacles are intentionally, or unintentionally placed between me and a goal. However, when they are consistent and unrelenting they can hardly be unexpected. Suddenly, it’s just par for the course. For those golfers out there, making par is doing pretty good.

I heard a story about a strapping European man who was trekking in the Himalayas. He came upon a little old lady who seemed to be carrying a pretty heavy load and he decided to give her a hand. She welcomed the help but when he lifted against the load it didn’t budge. He couldn’t lift it! The little old lady just smiled big, lifted it to her back, and got back on her way.

There are some factors about our semi-utopian society that cause us to lack many qualities we could have. Whether it is physical strength, or above average character, I wonder if we sometimes trade good things for bad. Anyway, I’m still glad to be here even if normal has become rolling blackouts, bone chilling cold, and unrelenting, unavoidable, and consistent obstacles to progress.