The Art of Patience

I’ve been spending an awful lot of time at this place lately.  I go for twice weekly “dates” with my physical therapist.  I feel as if I’m there so often that I’ve become fast friends with the whole staff.  While there I usually see other folks I know.  While this is fortunate for me so that I can visit, it is unfortunate for these other friends, as it means they are also nursing some sort of injury.  

It has been three months since my shoulder surgery and I am being taught a huge lesson.  While my task master /physical therapist works on stretching out my shoulder, manipulating it in ways that are so painful my toes curl (and, yes, they literally do curl!) and begins to let me work on some strengthening work, I am also working on keeping my frustration at bay.  How can lifting a 1 lb. weight  be all that I can do?  And, after three long months?  While I can see a whole lot of progress in the level of pain and range of motion, it is still like having a non-working limb that I have to compensate for.  It also does not follow my normal “get it done now” mentality. This is definitely a lesson in patience.  

Patience has never been on of my best qualities and I’m sure lots of folks are with me on this one.  It is such a struggle!  We know all the cliches: Patience is a virtue, Good things come to those who wait;  blah, blah, blah.  We all know it in our heads, I’m sure, but putting it into practice is another thing.  

I’m one of those folks who is convinced that things happen for a reason.  Maybe this recovery is supposed to be teaching me the art of patience.  Maybe I’ll get it or at least get a little better at it.  Otherwise, I’d likely continue rushing headlong from one thing to another for years to come.  Maybe it will be a good thing.  If I could just find this patience, and, quickly . . .

Are  you a patient person?  Have you had a lesson in patience?  Any advice on finding patience – quickly?