pa•tience [pey-shuh ns] (noun) – 1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. 2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. 3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence.
“In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience.” (W.B. Prescott)
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I was standing in front of forty-six eyeballs that stared at me and stripped me bare of everything that I had in an attempt to decipher what I was going to tell them. Next to me was the woman who, at one time, seemed to be so old to me but now I realize wasn’t old at all. She put her hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“Class, this is Luc Joseph,” Mrs. Pino said with a smile. “He was one of my brightest students. I asked him to come here to talk to all of you who are thinking about college.”
“Hello,” I waved. “Instead of me just telling you about it and hoping that I get everything, how about we just start with questions. Anyone?”
And it began.
Where did I go to college? How long? Were there parties? Did you commute or stay on campus? Did guys and girls live in the same dorm? What did you say about the parties?
On and on it went. But there was one question that stuck out to me because I think it was the only specific question directed at me that needed a really well-thought-out opinion. The question was “Since you’re a programmer, what is your advice to someone who wants to pursue a degree in technology?”
I’d be lying if I said I had to think about it. The answer, at least to me, was obvious.
“If you don’t have patience, then don’t do it.” That was my answer.
Patience, in my view, is a skill that it needed more than ever, yet is taught less and less. We live in a society of instant gratification. Everything is about now, now, now. Not later. Not a minute from now. Now!
Investing money in the start market? I want my dividends now!
Starting a business? I want to be a millionaire now!
Going on a date? Let's have sex now!
Surfing the internet? I need that download now!
I know I’m old. I can remember when I got my first computer. It came with a modem for surfing the Net. I set it up to connect to AOL, pressed the dial button on the screen, then waited as the modem dialed a local number, connected through a serious of weird noises that I would be ashamed to even try to duplicate (called, affectionately enough, a “handshake”), and then began to download the AOL start screen. This took a while (understatement of the decade), but I dealt with it. If my kids had to endure it now, they would swear that they were undergoing torture.
Even now, where I work, we have users who call us when it takes more than 10 seconds for a web page to load. “The computer’s too slow,” they cry. “It’s taking too long.”
We hear it all the time. Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Yet, I think we are in the midst of the most impatient generation in history. Instant coffee, microwave ovens, fast food and broadband internet have created Generation Now. They want their children to walk and talk now (never mind that once that happens, all they’ll tell the kids is to sit down and shut up). They don’t want their MTV because, on the computer, their music and videos come up instantly. Even MTV doesn’t want their MTV anymore.
It has also lead to a generation that doesn’t consider the consequences of their actions. Since they make their decisions (say it with me) now, they hardly have time to consider (1) alternatives or (2) repercussions. They don’t take the time to think anymore. Everything’s on autopilot, and the autopilot’s fueled by caffeine and burger binges brought on by Mickey D’s and Starbucks lattes.
Even worse, they get mad when you take the time to think (gasp) and consider your actions (gasp again). I know I frustrate my kids with this, because they want an answer now, and my answer is, “I’ll think about it and get back to you.” But there's a balance to this. They’re frustrated. I’m happy. See? It balances out.
But I have hope. I think that patience comes with time. The older you get, the more patience you develop. So who knows? In another decade or two (it won’t happen now) Generation Now will become Generation Hold-On-A-Sec.
And when it does, I will be there to say, gushing with pride, “Get off my lawn! Now!!!”
