IN THE RING OF LIFE: WHILE YOU WAIT.

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The Cambridge online dictionary defines waiting as “to allow time to go by, especially while staying in one place without doing very much, until someone comes, until something that you are expecting happens or until you can do something”. The Collins Dictionary also expresses the term wait as “when spending some time doing very little, because you cannot act until that thing happens or the person you expect arrives”. 

To wait in life basically implies experiencing a pause or halt in a hitherto planned life pattern or schedule due to a reason or two. As we go through life, there may be reasons which can compel us to wait for someone or something. Some may be voluntary while others may be involuntary. Involuntary reasons for waiting in life includes unemployment, financial challenges, issues with social interactions, environmental constraints, religious demands,  relationship problems, disasters, sudden loss or illness, death and  other existential issues. Voluntary reasons for waiting may include rest, vacation, personal goal settings and others.

At certain points in the life of every individual, situations may require some form of waiting whether voluntarily or otherwise. This period of waiting can impact the life of the individual and by extension family or society either positively or negatively depending on the response and appraisal accorded to that waiting period. Essentially, this has a significant effect on the mental, physical and psychological well-being of the individual. In the six (6) steps listed below, we explore how we can wait purposefully in life and make the best of that period to improve our lives and that of others in our circle of influence.

  • Give the situation some time. It can be difficult when suddenly, we realize that we have to wait in life especially when we were hopeful that we would cross a particular boundary, meet that deadline or achieve that feat. However, it is in those moments that we need to learn to give the situation and ourselves time. We have to build ourselves to "wait it out" until the time is right to continue moving on with life. There should be no rush, pressure or compulsion to force us out of our time of waiting it out.
  • Use the period to build yourself. Waiting can seem endless and draining but it is a good opportunity to explore different skills and learn new things. It could be a training programme, an educational pursuit and a trade. Whatever it may be, it is important to find something doing to improve your worth, knowledge and perhaps financial value as you wait for the expected moment.
  • Let the period refine you. Waiting may be tiresome and seem unprofitable. However, it is a good time for self-introspection. It is also a good period to learn lessons from the experiences leading to the need for a wait period and draw insight from it especially if it involuntary. Whereas it may not be desirable for you, waiting can be a crucial time to check lapses in your life and relationships. You can ably map out strategies to improve yourself.
  • Things may never be the same. When you reach a period of waiting in your life, other activities, events and people will still be in motion; life will continue in your absence. Thus, things may never be the same as you left it at the point of ending your wait time and that is okay. Take delight in your ability to move on and make the best of it. People, activities, events will come and go. So, renew your mind and carry on from where you stopped. Being alive, healthy and able to proceed is enough.
  • Pick up life at your pace. Do not beat yourself up or feel left behind when you go through a time of waiting. You cannot retrieve the lost time anyway. You must therefore strive to make the best of the time you have ahead of you. While it may not be easy, it is possible to create a new version of life as you hope for after recovering from a time of waiting.
  • Understand that the wait period is temporary. Nothing is permanent in life. There is no certainty in human existence except the reality that there is birth and death. Anytime in-between these two is temporary. As you acknowledge this, it guides you to be mindful of the things or issues that should be prioritised in your personal life and human interactions.

Every individual works and aspires to live an idealistic life. However, it is important to be realistic and mindful of the fact that life happens sometimes! We may need to accept that some halts or waiting seasons may come but it should not define who we are or prevent us from picking ourselves up again. Hopefully our wait will be a purposeful revival of the best versions of US!  

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