I think it is fair to say we live in an instant gratification society. We don’t want to wait on anything nowadays. Once we decide we want something, we want it right then and there. Standing in lines, being on hold or sitting in traffic is often times seen as the bane of our existence. I shamefully admit I am guilty of  being impatient at times. Atlanta traffic will cause even the most Zen person to want to turn around and go back home. The traffic report tells us to expect delays on certain routes, but for some reason when it happens we act as if we didn’t hear anything ahead of time. Rather than wait for our product, an answer to our question or arrival to our destination, we would rather leave or give up all together.

For some reason we tend to feel like a delay is a denial. As if there is someone telling us  “No!” without any explanation. I recently placed an order with Amazon and was guaranteed free 2 day shipping. I ordered an item for my mother to take home to her at the end of the month. Yes, you read it right, the end of the month. I placed the order on a Tuesday and it was supposed to arrive in the mail by the end of business day on the following Thursday. When I checked the mail on Thursday there was no package. I even waited an hour and went back to check again, just in case the postman was running late. The package did not arrive as promised. I was so upset. I wanted my package so that I could check it off my list and put it directly in my trunk.  When I got back home, I immediately got on the phone with Amazon to attempt to track down my package. The representative apologized for the delay in delivery of my package and began her search. I have to admit I was initially upset and I felt like canceling the order. The representative asked me if I wanted to return the item for a full refund. That was when I had a moment of clarity about my package. 2 day shipping is a nice incentive, but things do not always go as planned. Life happens and at the end of the day (maybe not that particular day) I was still going to get my package. The package was important because it was for my mother, but it would be 3 weeks before I would get it to her. The arrival date didn’t seem to be as important and I thought it was. I told the representative no thank you and I would wait on my package. She credited $5.00 to my account for the inconvenience .

Frustration and impatience comes along with living everyday life. Practicing patience when something is delayed will not only help us calm down in the present, but help us become more mindful when similar situations occur in the future.