I believe patience is the most important and perhaps one of most underrated qualities one can possess. Most people have heard the saying “patience is a virtue”. Although it is cliché, it’s very true. This expression was first used in the poem titled “Piers Plowman” written by William Langland in the 1300’s. There is something to be said about someone who understands the value in waiting without becoming anxious or distressed. Practicing patience shows both great strength and discipline. Although it seems like a no brainer, having patience is not as easy as it sounds.
From birth, society has unconsciously taught us that instant gratification is better. Popular fast food chains like McDonalds and Burger King have capitalized on the idea of “instant food.” Another direct example of this can be seen through the advancement of technology and social media. I belong to a generation that cringes at the thought of no Wi-Fi connection. The more instantaneous communication becomes, the more impatient society becomes. In many instances, instant gratification isn’t always better or appropriate.
One day, a few years ago, I almost had a mini panic attack when I got to class and realized I left my phone at home. I was a freshman and had a full day of class ahead of me. I didn’t know many people at Penn State and found comfort in constantly being in tuned to what my friends and followers were doing online. I had been constantly checking my Instagram newsfeed, text messages, and Snapchat stories for the latest and most current news. It was then that I realized I had it bad. I, a journalism major, hadn’t opened a newspaper in months. Some how I had decided that reading a newspaper took too much time and wasn’t instant enough. Since then, I’ve made a point to stay off social media during the week to practice patience. I even get the Los Angels Times sent to my house here in State College and read it several times a week. While there are definitely many positive aspects of social media, instant messaging and posting does reinforce the idea of instant gratification to an already overly impatient society. As a result, our generation has become obsessed with the now and less concerned with planning for the future.
It is important as a society that we stress —patience as a character trait. Waiting for the right time and opportunity is always better than reacting on an intrusive impulse.