The Art of Patience

The Art of Patience

One isn’t born with patience; it’s a skill that is developed over time.  It’s an art form that takes discipline.

Growing up I was like most kids. I was very impatient, wanting things immediately.  I feel that I learned a small part of patience due to my economic situation.  I didn’t come from a wealthy family, so whenever I wanted something I had to save my money for months before I could buy it.  Sometimes I had to wait until it was my birthday, or Christmas.  Not knowing it, at a young age I was starting to learn the art of being patient. 

This was only the beginning of my full understanding of what it truly means to be patient or even to develop the necessary discipline to master this unique art form. 

I can remember falling in love for the first time.  Her name was Kesia Rivera and she was a family friend who I had not seen since we were both around 8 or 9.  There was a church function in July, vacation bible school when I was 16 and we saw each other again and from there a spark ignited that turned into a blazing inferno.  It was love at first sight, we could not keep or eyes off each other. For the entire week of vacation bible school we were always together dreading when we had to say bye to each other, I was looking forward for the sunrise to see each other again the next day. She was only visiting from her home town in Fresno for one week and I lived in San Pablo.  This was going to make things very difficult.  We decided to give it a try.  We exchanged phone numbers and started a relationship.  Any chance that she had she would come and visit her family out in the Bay Area.  First there was a family party, and then Christmas came around. 

It was months before we could see each other but I looked forward to the day we would spend time together, counting the days longing to see her, hold her hands, and kiss her.  Patience and discipline are a very important attribute to any relationship.  One must have the discipline to be patient, in order to fall in love or even to get by in life.  We will always be put in situations that are out of our control, whether in a relationship, or just waiting in line at the grocery store and the person in front of you has 100 items and you might only have two, and then there credit card gets decline so they whip out another one until finally they have paid for their grocery.

Erich from said, “For a picture of the concentration, discipline, patience and concern are necessary for the learning of an art” The Practice of Love page 102 Erich Fromm.

In December 2010 I took up boxing as a sport.  I always wanted to do it and I really liked the physical-ness of the sport.  When I first started, my coach had me do jab drills, and foot work drills.  This went on for two months.  I never realized how much work and effort went in throwing a punch.  Just last week, 4 months later my coach was very impressed on how smoothly my punches were coming out and how my foot work  has improved from when I started.  In order for me to throw a punch correctly it took patience, and discipline.  This art form is used in all aspects of our lives; it’s just unfortunate we learn this in the later stages of our lives.

Alexis Arguello was a great boxer from Nicaragua who became a champion in the light weight division he was killed at age 57.  He was elected mayor of Managua Nicaragua wanting change for our people and was killed in his home.  He is the boxer who growing up inspired me to take up the sport.

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