Waiting
Red lights. Traffic jams. Railroad tracks.
Long lines at the grocery/retail stores.
Waiting for your car to be serviced.
Appointments at the doctors/dentist’s office.
Emergency rooms.
Long lines waiting to buy concert tickets, or waiting in line for your favorite author to sign their long awaited, newly released book.
Waiting in line at your favorite coffee shop.
Waiting to check into a hotel, to begin your vacation.
Waiting for the parade to begin.
Waiting for the newest installment of your favorite movie to be released. Then waiting in line to view the long awaited masterpiece.
Waiting rooms.
Waiting for a mother to give birth.
Waiting while your loved one is in surgery.
Waiting for a table at a crowded restaurant.
Waiting in line for your favorite amusement park ride. That’s where wait times make you cringe, and you immediately say “I won’t wait that long!!”
Waiting on hold, for the next customer service agent to speak with you.
Waiting for a delayed flight, or airport layover.
Waiting for the elevator to take you to your floor, your destination.
Waiting for the long awaited promotion/raise you’ve worked so hard for.
Waiting for your dream job to be realized.
Waiting for love, for that one person that has been waiting for you.
Waiting. It seems we spend our lives, waiting.
We wait for the light to change so we can “GO!”
Let’s be honest, WE ALL COMPLAIN ABOUT WAITING.
They say, “Life happens while you’re waiting.”
I recently moved home to Chicago. I drove 1400 miles alone. I can say I drove alone, but I had so many angels in the car with me, taking me on a new journey, filling me with anticipation and excitement. On my way home, I always pass through Kentucky. I always love driving through Kentucky, because I call it my “easy state”. Clear roads, open and quick! Guess what? Major construction in Kentucky. I immediately said, “Awww, come on Kentucky! I counted on you to work with me! I wanna go home!!”
As I saw hundreds of cars and trucks at a crawl, as far as I could see, I looked up at the beautiful blue sky and breathtaking mountains. I took a deep breath. A driver to my left rolled down his window and said, “Hey, have you heard what the holdup is?”
For a brief second, I wanted to whine, complain that we were at a standstill, with no end in sight. But being my angels were packed into my already packed car, I simply said, “Well, as long as we’re safe, it doesn’t really matter, it’s a beautiful day, and I’ve got some great music playing!”
At first he looked at me like, “huh?”
Then he smiled and said, “Ya know, you’re absolutely right!”
We both smiled and took in the beauty of a traffic jam in the beautiful state of Kentucky.
Some of the most amazing encounters happen while we’re waiting. You can relate to someone you wouldn’t normally even consider speaking to. God puts people in our paths for a reason, at any given moment. Especially while we’re waiting.
Think about the last time you had a great chat with someone in the grocery check-out line. Instead of complaining about the price of groceries, turn the conversation to something positive, like the fact that the groceries we’re buying will create amazing meals to share with our families. Share a recipe. Inspire each other.
Shopping at this time of year is particularly stressful. Instead of being aggravated, try enjoying the anticipation of the true meaning of the holiday, instead of counting the items in someone else’s cart.
I’ve met the most amazing people in airports. Strike up a conversation, or simply smile at someone. Don’t avert your eyes, get your face out of your phone and make human contact.
Don’t avert your heart.
Create positive energy of love, not fear.
Take in the sights, sounds and aromas. Feel the energy.
The next time you’re in an emergency room, or hospital, look around. You’ll most likely see fear, but with one look, one smile that says, “We’re all in this together”, you can perhaps bring that person a bit of comfort they so desperately need at that moment.
One of the coolest waiting lines is a concert ticket line. Everyone in line shares the love of an incredible artist, band or event. Such amazing energy of love!!!
You can be inspired or inspire while waiting.
Next time you’re in an elevator, don’t look down. Look up and smile. Create positive energy in that small confined space!
If you know of anyone going through Chemo or Dialysis, maybe ask them, “Can I wait with you while you receive your next treatment?”
Let’s learn to stop “wishing away” the waiting.
We think of waiting as a waste of time, a void, time lost that we’ll never get back. In reality, there are many many lessons to be learned in the waiting.
Waiting.
The best part of reaching your destination is those we meet along our paths.
Waiting.
One of God’s greatest gifts.
Next time you’re waiting, look around and say thank you for what you’re being shown.
Blessings during this holiday season.
Karen
xxxxxoooooo
