patience is a virtue
The short version of the story is, my computer conked out, and the only person in the world my husband trusts to fix the problem became available only recently. So there.
It was a long, agonizing wait. You have no idea how much I bugged my husband to get someone else to do it for him.
Until I remembered to be patient and trust that he knows what he is doing.
Patience is a challenge. My family and old, old friends know patience is not among my list of greatest qualities.
But somehow, I woke up one day and realized that there are some things in life I can choose to be patient with. Maybe because my husband’s gentle soul has influenced me. Maybe it sneaked on me on my first mother’s day. Or maybe the fact that my age won’t be found in a calendar soon has something to do with it.
Yes, since patience does not come naturally to me, I have to exert effort to choose to be patient. Nevertheless, I believe the rewards are the same.
For months now, traffic has been terrible where I live. The barangay officials came up with a great idea to repair roads regardless of whether or not it is needed, thus the traffic even at an ungodly hour. That hundreds of tricycle drivers in here are impatient compounds the problem. Vehicles stop in a second and tricycles of all colors immediately overtake in all directions.
One hot day, a six-wheeler busted a tire right in the middle of a busy, narrow street. The great tricycle drivers, like always, occupied all available spaces like roaches. A look on my gas meter reminded me I forgot to fill the tank, so I had to turn off the aircon to conserve gasoline. I had to open the windows, so everyone saw I am a girl driver with a cranky baby girl in the back seat. So tricycle drivers and jeepney drivers and taxi drivers positioned their motors in hopes of squeezing me out of my lane.
And I haven’t had lunch yet. The perfect moment to fire off some cuss words.
But yes, patience can be a choice. So while waiting for more than 30 minutes to wait for the barangay officials to get their act together, I decided to remember that I cannot change the drivers, the baranggay officials, the weather, the Philippines. And instead remember that there is a way out of my impending foul mood.
So I sang.
Walang sino man ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang.
Walang sino man ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang.
Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa.
Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling Niya.
It was working, so I sang some more.
Sinong makapaghihiwalay
Sa atin sa piling ni Kristo.
Sinong makapaghihiwalay sa atin
Sa pag-ibig ng Diyos.
I sang for at least 30 minutes. I had to stop when I reached a gas station, then continued singing until I reached home. And so I recommend singing church songs. It’s therapeutic. You get brownie points from heaven too.
Note: I wouldn’t want to suffer the same fate as Teri Hatcher and ABC, and so I must clarify that the undisciplined roaches aka tricycle drivers I’m referring to are the franchises near where I live. And I add that not all of them are roaches. I have met two really nice drivers actually.
soloops:
Cess,
The city where I live in is known for its terrible traffic jams. In fact, road rage incidents have been happening with alarming frequency in the place. This morning, it took me an hour just to get out of the subdivision, not to mention to reach the office. It used to ruin my day, but I’ve sort of given up on the situation and just space out, otherwise, it’ll be bad for my bp and my baby.
Your idea (singing), is worthy trying, instead of huffing ang puffing in frustration.
It’s great that your pc is now ok. Welcome back.
LC: hi soloops. road rage - some incidents must have been in the news. oo nga, it would do our health no good if we let it take over us.
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 9:52 amsoloops:
P.S.,
We share a common thing-bad temper and patient hubbies from whom we learn a lot.
Reminds me of the saying “good things come to those who wait.”
LC: pwede ring, a good hubby comes to an impatient woman who learns to wait. hahaha!
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 9:54 amRaquel:
Kaya pala walang update dito, usually every other day ka nag a-update di ba? About traffic naman, wala na atang solution sa traffic natin jan Cess, you are right, patience is a virtue. *wink*
LC: hay, youre so right raquel. wala nang solution dyan, except to change our povs about it
take care!
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 10:03 amjho:
Patience is really a virtue.
Hayaan mo na lang yung mga roaches, kukunin din sila ng kaaway ni Lord. =)
Akala ko sa area lang namin ang kakaiba ang kalsada. Pati pala sa inyo. The difference is that, hindi pa inaayos ng QC government yung mga ala crater na lubak paglabas mo ng village.
Welcome back cess! Sana hindi na magloko uli yang PC nyo.
LC: ah oo nga pala, traffic din sa tapat nyo. pero at least malawak ang kalsada sa inyo, sa amin kasi makitid.
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 10:24 amRowena:
Hi Cess, welcome back….I like this post, ok yan, singing in the middle of a traffic situation, while you’re hungry at the same time…You’re that patient pala. You’re right, la tayo magagawa but to change our ways before we look for changes in others….
LC: thanks rowena. im not really a patient person hehehe! patience is one of those things i have to learn, like cooking and driving
it has enormous benefits kaya i say it’s worth the choice.
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 10:25 amTikey:
Hay naku super totoo yang PATIENCE is a VIRTUE nayan.. nagamit ko na sya more than a 1000 times..
LC: hahaha! o tingnan mo naman, nagbunga na!
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 12:00 pmann:
Yeheyy! Andito na si mommy cess!!
Patience? Ako marami ako nyan….Welcome back!
LC: oh yes, patient mommy ann! to the max!
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15 October 2007, 1:20 pmMari:
Good for you you found a way to release the tension. If it happens to me, I wouldn’t know what to do, as I can’t sing. At any rate, welcome back to the blogosphere orbit.
LC: thanks mari! hindi rin ako marunong kumanta. that’s the beauty with some church songs, pasado ako kahit sintonado
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 3:43 pmMommyBa:
I’m glad you’re back in business!!!
Anyway, talking about patience, I can go on and on and on for examples as to how it came into my life and how it added years to my life without seeing it on my face. But then again, hanggang kelan nga ba tayo pwede magpasensya??
That’s my question for the week. And I’m seriously looking for answers.
I missed you and I hope your computer doesn’t conk out on you again.
LC: oo nga pala, nakakabata rin ang pagpapasensiya. you must be one extremely patient person!
hanggang kelan? ibang level na yan, hmm. my serious answer - there’s a line between being patient and allowing ourselves to be taken for granted, so…. before i go on, i believe we need cups of coffee. or bottles of wine, whichever suits you
[Reply]
15 October 2007, 8:42 pmKongkong622:
I was beginning to wonder what happened. What with so many bloggers going on hiatus. Akala ko ganun na din nangyari sa iyo. But as another saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.” Tama lang na naghintay kami ng new post mo kasi this is a fantastic one. Glad you’re back!
LC: thanks cookie!
[Reply]
16 October 2007, 1:54 pmKongkong622:
I’m trying again as my comment was kinda refused kanina.
Anyway, I said that I was beginning to wonder what had happened to you. I thought you were on hiatus just like so many of my fave bloggers.
Great post and great to have you back!
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16 October 2007, 2:00 pmjulie:
I am patient when I am teaching but sometimes not with other things. My hubby is more patient than I am.
It doesn’t seem like its traffic where you are but then again, I can only see the “bungad” of your hiway from our place.
I had patience in waiting for your post, Cess. Glad to know you are back. Take care!
LC: hi teacher. naku, traffic is horrible lately, kasi ginagawa yung kalye. kahit madaling araw traffic!
[Reply]
17 October 2007, 8:40 amRach:
Hi Cess! It’s great to finally have you back on-line. Patience is not among my strongest points either. I admire how you steered yourself away from stress by singing.
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17 October 2007, 9:32 pmauee:
ceeesss, you’re back
Your post transported me back to my hometown. Just the other day my hubby jokingly said that he misses my paternal home and the sound of tricycle motors at 5am!
You know I do sing church songs most of the time I’m stressed. Sometimes it works, sometimes I wish I could smoke again.
You are right everyone has a choice on how we’d react to situations. It’s just difficult to make the “right” choices instinctively.
Anyway, glad you’re back! And hey I moved home na.
[Reply]
17 October 2007, 10:39 pm