Comments on: Patience is a Virtue Reinforced in Tough Times

By: 11 Little Steps to Better Finances | Insight Writer

11 Little Steps to Better Finances | Insight Writer — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:10:40 +0000

[...] Repeat. This is all rather boring stuff. Investing is boring (unless you are a day trader). Saving is boring. Paying bills is boring and sometimes hurts. Building a budget is boring. Learning about all this stuff can be boring too. You know what though? Doing all this stuff helps us enjoy life more and helps us to do more of the not-so-boring and fun stuff we want to do. [...]

By: Marci

Marci — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:16:55 +0000

Contentment is an attitude that anyone CAN learn – and it comes from within – not from outside, ie, not what you have outside (possessions).

Patience is something I think I learned from letter writing pen pals as a child, and from sitting in Dr’s offices with my kids

And instant gratification leaves out one very very important factor – anticipation! Half the fun of getting something, or going somewhere, is the time factor before it happens… the anticipation and excitement! People tend to miss out on that with all these instant deals now!

Sometimes ya just gotta step off the merry-go-round, get your feet on solid ground, and enjoy the moments/days for what they are – precious gifts! Patience allows for that. And hopefully, contentment follows

Prayers and Sunshine to your Mom and your family during this time

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:35:50 +0000

Great post. It is important to look at ourselves and wonder what we are getting all excited FOR, in terms of instant gratification.

I like Gail’s comment about being content. But another thing to consider is this: If we are looking at what others have and wanting it, do we realize that chances are that they have it because they went into debt to get it? Are we getting into debt to keep up with others’ consumer-spending-supported-by-debt habit?

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:08:14 +0000

@Gail: As I read your comment I was reminded of my past thoughts on contentment. The two ideas, patience and contentment, go hand-in-hand, as you eloquently explained in your comment. Thanks for sharing that perspective.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:46:27 +0000

I continue to think of your family. I struggle with patience myself and always a sense of insecurity that I will not be able to meet the demands of financial struggles that come our way. I think this is where faith really comes into play and I need to have more faith that things will all work out in their own time.

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:45:38 +0000

I think some of our impatience comes from the fact that we are frustrated by what we feel we should have achieved. We look around at other who have so much more — or so it seems to us — and huff and puff about what we don’t have that we SHOULD have. I’ve worked with a lot of people who I MAKE look at what they DO have, as opposed to what they DON’T have, and it’s quite amazing how relieved they are. “the-donut-not-the-hole” approach to life can be taught, and brings with it a keen sense of I’m-Okay. So too can the rhythm of doing things for the joy of doing them… enjoying the drive (commute), the meal preparation, the music in the grocery store while you’re in the line. Attitude rules. Patience takes practice.

By: Elliott - 21st Century Dad

Elliott - 21st Century Dad — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:59:42 +0000

Capitalism is partially responsible. A virtue (the desire to outdo your previous accomplishments) has created a vice (the desire for instant gratification).

The brown rice that takes an hour to make isn’t good enough. Then we have parboiled brown rice which takes about 20 minutes. Minute rice still takes 10 minutes. Now we have those microwavable pouches that heat up in 2 minutes.

My stepson’s food choices are informed mostly by convenience rather than desire for sub-optimal choices. Thankfully, a healthy snack like bananas provide even more instant gratification than Pop Tarts, Hot Pockets, or other microwave snacks.

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:16:00 +0000

@DavidK: You and I are in agreement on the medical field. I am appreciative of the care they have given my Mom up to this point, but now it is out of their hands. We now wait for her own body to heal, to recover, and eventually to be restored. Even her well-regarded neurosurgeon confessed, she is out of our hands and in God’s hands. You don’t hear that confession from many doctors these days.

By: DavidK

DavidK — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:05:20 +0000

Patience is something that is definitely learned. As children we have no concept of time so desires are either satisfied now or never. You can tell a little child “you can get it later” but they don’t understand what “later” means. Many adults have the same problem. Instant communication, almost instant meals (fast food, and pre-prepared), instant news, and the list goes on and on. I clearly remember back in college, a friend and I went to BK to get something to eat. Now typically the wait time is at most 5-6 min. even if they have to slap the patty onto their flame broiler and make the complete burger. It astounded me that a full 3 minutes after ordering he basically just says to me “Wow, it takes forever to get anything to eat! What’s taking them so long?? This is ridiculous!” I just had to say “Look, it’s fast food not instant food. At least you’re not having to cook it yourself from scratch.” I found it interesting that this normally subdue and patient guy would be bent out of shape if food didn’t get to his mouth within a few minutes of telling someone that he wanted to eat. Talk about instant gratification. People expect it these days from not only the food services but from their relationship partners and even from medical doctors as well.

On another topic, I’m not sure how you FrugalDad view the medical industry and doctors in particular but they certainly don’t provide instant gratification. They also don’t have all the answers. There is a reason they call it a “practice”. Doctors are constantly practicing their craft on patients where they don’t know specifically what is wrong with them. Humans are not manufactured on an assembly line, so it’s always a guessing game. They usually take educated guesses but it’s still just a try at fixing the problem. It irks me when people expect magic from doctors. They’ve been watching a little too much ER and Star Trek.

By: Amber Jones

Amber Jones — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:54:19 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful blog. It is absolutely amazing, and encouraging. You are a wonderful writer!

I have selective patience. I am a mother tho, and I’m learning more and more than patience should not just be directed toward my children. It should be in all aspects of my life. Thank you for this reminder!