Lately, I feel as though I\’ve been in a perpetual state of waiting. I\’m waiting for school to start again. I\’m waiting to get my new GA job assignment. I\’m waiting for my Amazon textbooks to arrive. I\’m waiting to hear back from graduate schools. I\’m waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. Dr. Seuss (whom I love dearly) said it best:
\”The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.\” – Dr. Seuss Oh, The Places You\’ll Go
I\’m there, Dr. Seuss. I\’m so there. I firmly believe it is the waiting that is the hardest part of most looming decisions. Once the expected (or unexpected) event happens, I find (generally) it is much easier to deal with. You know your options. The fate is set. You can actually do something about it even if it\’s only expressing your emotions. When you\’re waiting, you\’re just waiting and it\’s hard. Patience is a virtue for a reason.
My main problem with waiting is that I tend to obsess about things. I imagine a variety of scenarios in my head and try to determine what to do when x happens. I fantasize about the furniture in my future house (like the couch I saw at Pottery Barn). I imagine how I\’ll set up my future office. I dream (literally) about getting accepted/declined from my various graduate schools. I\’m what you might call a troubleshooter. I\’m good at thinking about all scenarios (especially worst-case scenarios). Unfortunately, none of this is entirely helpful. I end up thinking a lot about things I can\’t do anything about right now. Dr. Seuss is right. It\’s a useless place. A place no good for thinkers to be. However, I don\’t really see a way of avoiding it, unfortunately. Granted some waiting is better than others. Amazon orders and acceptance letters are not the same level at all.
At least at Amazon, I can track my packages.
\”And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.\” – Dr. Seuss