When we’re young there are all sorts of things to learn: tying shoes, riding a bike without training wheels, the alphabet, how to count. Mastering these small tasks gives a sense of accomplishment. Praise is given and parents tell you what a big kid you are. But if you’ve ever spent time with a young child, you know some things are more tricky to learn and even harder to teach.
This past weekend I babysat my friend Jennifer’s daughter Olivia. She asked to play the board game Trouble and was frustrated I won and she hid under her parents’ bed momentarily, saying it wasn’t fair. With some coaxing I got her to come out and reminded her that it’ll take practice and patience. I left their house quite amused that a game like Trouble could cause Olivia to be upset that she wasn’t winning.
This week it will be a month since I lost my job. I’m upset I’m not winning at being employed and it’s causing me to want to hide under my parents’ bed and deem the situation not fair. Trouble indeed.
Patience is a tough thing to teach and even tougher to learn. An explanation of the word is sufficient for small children but putting it into practice, no matter your age, is very trying. I get frustrated and angry that I’m not getting the interviews I think I should be. I find my patience with the situation wearing thin at times and it’s hard to keep my spirits up. Friends wish me well on my quest for employment and it’s well-meaning and I deeply appreciate their words of kindness but that’s not getting me any phone calls from potential employers.
So how does one learn patience? By facing a situation you have no control over and attempting to remain calm. It’s maddening to say the least. To tackle this I’m rewriting my résumé, checking the classifieds daily, registering with temp agencies and reminding myself I’m not the only person searching for a job.
Today’s lie: I’ve mastered patience and no longer need this lesson.
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