[Leed]

"Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself."
............................................................Francis de Sales

At times all of us are influenced by the prevailing societal demand "Hurry up." We are surrounded by "instants," from instant potatoes to instant photographs. We consistently hear that faster is better - "My computer is better than yours because it now works in milliseconds." Thus, bewitched by this neurotic demand, we become incredibly impatient people. We sometimes hurry up so we can slow down. We shout at people driving too slowly for our taste. We berate a waitress for not attending to us quickly enough, thinking she is doing it on purpose, when quite possibly it is just that her feet hurt.

And as with all habits, it becomes so routine we no longer even question the habit; it is simply normal. It becomes so much a part of us we are unable even to question it.

All great things take time. All genuine, precious growth takes time. Growth is not in the economy of milliseconds or hurry up. When we lose patience under the rush of going faster, we miss the vast amount of beauty surrounding us.
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Today, I am peaceful in the knowledge that faster isn't better - better is better.

I wonder how many times I've been is a rush, and forgotten something at home, and have had to go back to get it. I wonder how many times I've been trying a new, complicated recipe for dinner, but being in a rush to get it done, I've forgotten a crucial step in the making and ruined it I wonder how many times I've gone to the grocery store for needed items, and gotten home and found I'd forgotten several needed items because I was in a rush. It's always hurry, hurry, hurry. That's the way it USED to be. It's not anymore. Today I take my time - that doesn't mean I don't forget things but I just don't hurry anymore. When you've found some peace of mind, you've found that even things like getting groceries are to be enjoyed; you've found that being stuck in traffic doesn't bother you like it used to; that being patient is something new to be enjoyed.