That "Waiting Place"...
Tired of waiting? Does it seem like you are striving but never arriving? What is it with certain times in our lives that seem interminably on "hold". It reminds me of that picture and the description so aptly given by Dr. Suess, - The Waiting Place.
Can you relate?
I have a friend who is waiting to get a job. Don't misunderstand. She is not simply sitting around waiting. She is actively searching and out there putting in resumes, knocking on doors, answering ads, yet she is still waiting. To her, the wait is a long one. She would like to be out there earning money and doing something useful. She wonders why this is happening to her.
Some of us will be able to relate. If you have ever been, even for a short period of time, without a job, or a desired relationship, car, living place, you will understand completely how my friend is feeling. Yet on the other hand, she is at present enjoying an abundance of free time, something most of us might be envious of.
Perhaps in our waiting place, the universe is simply presenting us with a time to gain perspective on where we are and what we might do differently. If we take the time away from the frustration of waiting to notice, that is.
A nuisance or an opportunity?
Just like waiting in the grocery store line can send some people into a rage, while others manage to get their banking done from their phone or spend some time talking to a friend, it is our reaction to the situation which makes all the difference. If you can not change your situation, you need to adjust your attitude. The situation will eventually change. That is inevitable.
The real issue is what will you do with your wait time?
Will you fuss and fume? Will you muse and reflect? Will you act and advance? Will you take a close look at your situation and see if it is working for you? The first one will get you nothing except difficulty, while the others may help you change in a useful way.
Take the time to use your wait time wisely.
The next time you have some un-planned for "wait time", try the following:
1. Ask yourself some hard questions. Questions like: Is this really the right job, partner, lifestyle, pastime for me? Am I making the best use of my talents? Take a look at how well you really know yourself and if the answer is not much, change it. Get to know what you like and don't like. The truer you are to your own essence, the better things will get.
2. Do something you enjoy. There are plenty of things that cost relatively little money and yet will fill your time and even lead you to learn that you have a talent for something you never knew you had.
Go to a local gallery, the library, the pool or the arena. Perhaps you have forgotten how much you really like to skate, swim or hike. You may end up healthier and happier for the investment.
3. Take a risk. "When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose." as Bob Dylan sang. If you are in a postition where you can take a risk, even a calculated one, why not? Not anything drastic, like jumping off a building. But applying for a job in a different field, starting a Youtube channel, joining a new club or singing or reciting poetry at an Open Mike. Why not? You have the time.
4. Spend time with people you care about and even make new friends. We are all so busy these days that having a bit of time on your hands can be disorienting yet investing in people always brings dividends. Spend time with relatives and friends. Maybe you can help them during the time you have and they don't. At some point in the future they may return the favour.
5. Devote some time to a worthy cause. All kinds of volunteers are needed and there are so many good causes to support. Get out there and just do it! Who knows? You may find that your good work gets you a new job opportunity.
6. Get out in nature. Unless it is the dead of winter and too cold, go outside and spend some time soaking up the wonderful outdoors. Not only will you get your vitamin D but studies have proven that nature has an incredibly healing effect on us humans. Improve your health, while you are waiting.
What to avoid?
The big no-no's when you have too much time on your hands are:
1. Too much Tube time Don't spend all your time sitting in front of the television watching the melodrama. You will likely snack too much to relieve your boredom and have nothing other than a larger waistline to show for your time.
2. Too much Screen time If you are applying for jobs, taking a course or otherwise educating yourself, screen time is a useful thing. But spending hours playing video games, will not give you much to show for at the end of your wait time. The occasional video game session? Sure but don't use all your time that way.
3. Feeling sorry for yourself. We can all go to this part of the "Waiting Place" I call it the "Boo Hoo" room. When life doesn't go our way, we can all get down. But get up and get moving so you don't stagnate. You may be feeling frustrated, angry or sad. That's normal for the situation. Acknowledge your feelings and take time to sort them out (with help) if need be,. Maybe you need to do some emotional healing and the universe is giving you some time. Do your healing and then move on.
Lessons learned?
Life is all about learning. So the next time the universe drops some wait time in your path, use it to consider how your life is going and if warranted, make some necessary changes. Then you will somehow be able to "escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where boom bands are playing." as per Dr. Suess.
I have a friend who is waiting to get a job. Don't misunderstand. She is not simply sitting around waiting. She is actively searching and out there putting in resumes, knocking on doors, answering ads, yet she is still waiting. To her, the wait is a long one. She would like to be out there earning money and doing something useful. She wonders why this is happening to her.
Some of us will be able to relate. If you have ever been, even for a short period of time, without a job, or a desired relationship, car, living place, you will understand completely how my friend is feeling. Yet on the other hand, she is at present enjoying an abundance of free time, something most of us might be envious of.
Perhaps in our waiting place, the universe is simply presenting us with a time to gain perspective on where we are and what we might do differently. If we take the time away from the frustration of waiting to notice, that is.
A nuisance or an opportunity?
Just like waiting in the grocery store line can send some people into a rage, while others manage to get their banking done from their phone or spend some time talking to a friend, it is our reaction to the situation which makes all the difference. If you can not change your situation, you need to adjust your attitude. The situation will eventually change. That is inevitable.
The real issue is what will you do with your wait time?
Will you fuss and fume? Will you muse and reflect? Will you act and advance? Will you take a close look at your situation and see if it is working for you? The first one will get you nothing except difficulty, while the others may help you change in a useful way.
Take the time to use your wait time wisely.
The next time you have some un-planned for "wait time", try the following:
1. Ask yourself some hard questions. Questions like: Is this really the right job, partner, lifestyle, pastime for me? Am I making the best use of my talents? Take a look at how well you really know yourself and if the answer is not much, change it. Get to know what you like and don't like. The truer you are to your own essence, the better things will get.
2. Do something you enjoy. There are plenty of things that cost relatively little money and yet will fill your time and even lead you to learn that you have a talent for something you never knew you had.
Go to a local gallery, the library, the pool or the arena. Perhaps you have forgotten how much you really like to skate, swim or hike. You may end up healthier and happier for the investment.
3. Take a risk. "When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose." as Bob Dylan sang. If you are in a postition where you can take a risk, even a calculated one, why not? Not anything drastic, like jumping off a building. But applying for a job in a different field, starting a Youtube channel, joining a new club or singing or reciting poetry at an Open Mike. Why not? You have the time.
4. Spend time with people you care about and even make new friends. We are all so busy these days that having a bit of time on your hands can be disorienting yet investing in people always brings dividends. Spend time with relatives and friends. Maybe you can help them during the time you have and they don't. At some point in the future they may return the favour.
5. Devote some time to a worthy cause. All kinds of volunteers are needed and there are so many good causes to support. Get out there and just do it! Who knows? You may find that your good work gets you a new job opportunity.
6. Get out in nature. Unless it is the dead of winter and too cold, go outside and spend some time soaking up the wonderful outdoors. Not only will you get your vitamin D but studies have proven that nature has an incredibly healing effect on us humans. Improve your health, while you are waiting.
What to avoid?
The big no-no's when you have too much time on your hands are:
1. Too much Tube time Don't spend all your time sitting in front of the television watching the melodrama. You will likely snack too much to relieve your boredom and have nothing other than a larger waistline to show for your time.
2. Too much Screen time If you are applying for jobs, taking a course or otherwise educating yourself, screen time is a useful thing. But spending hours playing video games, will not give you much to show for at the end of your wait time. The occasional video game session? Sure but don't use all your time that way.
3. Feeling sorry for yourself. We can all go to this part of the "Waiting Place" I call it the "Boo Hoo" room. When life doesn't go our way, we can all get down. But get up and get moving so you don't stagnate. You may be feeling frustrated, angry or sad. That's normal for the situation. Acknowledge your feelings and take time to sort them out (with help) if need be,. Maybe you need to do some emotional healing and the universe is giving you some time. Do your healing and then move on.
Lessons learned?
Life is all about learning. So the next time the universe drops some wait time in your path, use it to consider how your life is going and if warranted, make some necessary changes. Then you will somehow be able to "escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where boom bands are playing." as per Dr. Suess.
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