The Gentle Art of Waiting
Life Lessons on Masculinity from the Tranquil Riverbank
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
– Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)
I sat by the river, observing the waves rhythmically ebb and flow. It wasn’t a rushing torrent, but a steady and calm stream that seemed to have mastered the art of patience. Despite the bustling world around me, I found solace next to that riverbank.
It’s easy for me to succumb to the fast-paced nature of life – working a traditional job, optimizing productivity, and completing lists of tasks on a daily basis. Months pass, and I wonder how time slipped away so swiftly. However, sitting beside the river, I gleaned a valuable lesson about the virtue of patience from its gentle journey.
Unlike a rushing torrent, the river didn’t frantically race to reach the sea, its ultimate destination. Instead, it embraced each twist, turn, and obstacle along its path. I appreciated how it navigated around rocks and boulders with calm determination, not treating them as obstacles to be demolished in a race to the finish. It was as if the river held a secret about time that I had yet to discover.
In my own life, I’ve discovered patience to be a critical tool, especially when thinking about my career and personal goals. It’s tempting to let impatience take over, urging a fast-forward to success. Yet, sitting by the river, I realized that the patient flow of water allowed it to find its rhythm, learning and adapting before reaching its destination. Similarly, rushing through life may lead us to destinations devoid of the necessary experiences, skills, and internal wisdom to appreciate it fully.
Patience is not only significant in grand ambitions but also in smaller tasks. When I was growing up, I often witnessed impatience through the older men in my life. If something didn’t come easily or quickly to them, they would immediately erupt with anger and frustration. The idea that masculinity and impatience were intertwined did not sit well with me.
Fortunately, I’ve learned about multiple cultural influences that have taught me to challenge the notion of impatience. Whether it’s Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on mindfulness meditation, the calm art of nurturing bonsai trees in Japan, or even the profoundly wise lessons from my favorite childhood show, Winnie the Pooh – such as the quote, “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” – I’ve learned to channel patience and embrace it as an integral part of my masculinity.
By cultivating patience, I have learned to appreciate the journey in both small and large tasks. When impatience knocks, I return to the riverbank, channeling the steady flow of water to remind me that life has its own pace and timing. Patience isn’t an obstacle; it’s a silent companion in life’s journey. As life unfolds at its own pace, there lies a beauty that transcends the rush to the sea.