“In this century we will eradicate  diseases , but  haste will kill us.” This quote from Marañón reminds me that  we live in a society where everyone is in a hurry . We don’t notice many details that make life more humane and kind. We rush, not only to catch the bus, but for everything.  In a rush, it’s difficult to enjoy the serene contemplation of the beauty that surrounds us , whether it’s flowers or simply the light of day or the darkness of night.

We lack patience.  We want everything now . However, knowing how to wait is one of the most appreciated and valued skills in our time. Those who have cultivated patience know that  many problems simply require waiting—waiting a little, sometimes a few days, a season, but sometimes  just a few seconds are enough to allow things to take their course, to let events unfold, respecting the natural order of things without nervously trying to adjust or correct reality to suit our whims and pace.

Learning to be patient is closely linked to wisdom, to learning to reflect before acting , to seeing things in perspective, to being aware of the impermanence of life and that nothing on this earth lasts forever. It is also a trait of a mature personality: we find it as a result in people who have a great capacity to overcome frustration and look ahead with hope.  The need for patience is based on the human experience of having to overcome the obstacles and dangers we encounter throughout life,  which threaten our fulfillment or happiness.

Aristotle considered patience a part of fortitude . The strong person is the one who possesses the ability to remain steadfast in misfortune, not so much out of fear of infamy or the hope of a pleasurable reward, but out of love for what is good.

Patience is essential for a serene life . A patient person’s disposition is contagious and makes life pleasant around them.  Being patient is possible, regardless of one’s personality or the magnitude of the difficulties  one faces. Saint Teresa expressed it beautifully in a poem: Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you/All things pass away: God never changes/  Patience obtains all things./He who has God lacks nothing: God alone suffices.

This article was published in the  Diario de Almería