Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Patience (Or the Making of Something, Like A Dream)

Patience is a problem for me. 

My desperate plea yesterday is a symptom of that impatience.  Of course, I can not expect an entire novel to reveal itself to me instantly.  Of course, I shouldn't label it.  I should go with it.  The process is going to take the time it always does and I'm fortunate to have that time at all.

I'll admit I spend a lot of wasted energy, panicking, thinking When am I going to get there? 

Yesterday I learned that a good friend at work (and in life) is leaving the company. I have known this was coming. She's been nurturing a kind of dream for a while, spent time taking classes and workshops, getting the necessary certification, meeting the right people, investing volunteer time.  Her process has been slow but steady (as the turtle taught the hare.)

Together, we've tested the limits, took too-long lunches to walk the Highline, circle Madison Square Park, and lounge in the secret garden-- there is one in this concrete jungle but, as the name implies, I can not tell you where it is.  We'd find ice cream and Indian food and, through it all, talk about hopes, make big plans. 

I'll miss her but I'm happy to have walked a small part of her journey, excited to see where she'll go next.

I think desire is easy.  Once it's been found, the I want this comes without any effort at all.  It's the making of a dream that takes time.  I'm learning this.

Just as I'm learning every day to be patient.  It is very (very) difficult for me.  But things come.  Not just to those who simply wait but, I think, to those who make.

10 comments:

  1. As it seems like I comment on every one of your posts... Me too! (In relation to the impatience.)

    But this... "I think desire is easy. Once it's been found, the I want this comes without any effort at all. It's the making of a dream that takes time. I'm learning this." I won't lie, that made me tear up. I've been trying SO hard to figure out what I'm supposed to do next in life, and now I realize it's not so easy, it's not *meant* to be easy, and once I find it, I can achieve it. Thank you.

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  2. That is exactly where I've been the last few days - impatient with my writing. I know where I want my novel to be, I know the changes I need to make to it, but I'm struggling with how slow I make those changes, and how long it's taking me to get there.
    Thanks for the great post on patience, dreams, and making/creating.

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  3. Oh I'm the master of impatience. But I find if I take a small break I can come back with more patience and ideas :)

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  4. I'm with you. Patience is so hard! Slow and steady is clearly the most logical course, but it can be so...slow.

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  5. My problem with patience is that I want other people, those I work with, to be a intensely focused on getting the job done as I am, and that isn't how everyone works. So I get impatient with them, My problem not theirs.

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  6. Patience is hard but you nailed it. I would say most things come to those who wait, they come to those who keep working at it.

    Great post!

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  7. Patience is also something that I need to have. I often feel frustrated about not having finished my novel yet. However, I think that we should enjoy the process of writing, rather than reaching the end result.

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  8. Patience is one of those things I wish would just materialize in my list of traits, but I guess it doesn't work like that :) If only...

    (And best of luck to your friend. I don't know why I find her story so moving right now--someone I've never met, heard of, etc.--but sometimes I guess it's just good to know that people are working towards their dreams. Gives me hope!)

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  9. Patience comes to those who wait, right? Someone thought that up, but I agree with it.

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