Q: I have noticed that I am having a difficult time practicing patience these days. Can you give me some tips to practice better patience and understanding?
A: While we are in a place where social/physical distancing is required, the grocery store may be a good place to practice. While you cannot get right behind the person in front of you at the check out line, remember that practicing patience gives you the freedom to be healthier, happier, and more aware of what is good in your life. Lines are a good testing ground for practicing patience.
When you are in line, think of how fortunate you are to be healthy, to have the gift of being able to get healthy food to nourish your body. When you practice patience, you realize that the old way really wasn’t working to begin with. Observe the way you feel compared to how you felt before. It is contagious. Others will notice and they will begin to practice it too. You will find yourself realizing that this is a great new way to be as the old way was just aggravation for you. This way is pleasant. You will even feel kindness and compassion toward self and others. Subsequently, patience becomes more widespread. You will notice that you will start to approach all situations with more patience and you will feel better as soon as you begin practicing it.