Editorial: Be patient when things don’t go your way exactly

Let’s be honest with one another; we all want the best things out of life. We want to be self-sufficient, independent, have families, and prove that we can stand on our own two feet. But let’s be honest again; it will take time and it may never happen.

I’m not saying this to discourage anyone. I’m saying that patience is needed in order to achieve all the goals you want to achieve. If you want to become a doctor, it will take years of study, clinicals, and tests just to even become certified as one. And even then, you’d still need to find a place willing to hire you. If you want to start a family, you need to find a suitable mate to make sure you both are on the same page to earn enough money to support it.

I’m writing this because there are times when a person will become frustrated because of where they are at in life. I will use my personal experiences as an example. When I was younger, I always thought I’d get married, have a family, and have a nice home. I often compared myself to my parents who got married at a young age and had me soon after. Instead, here I am 20 years later not married and without children. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but when you had dreams in the past of how life could have been and they don’t happen, it can frustrate you.

Our interactions in the world are key in shaping who we are. Skills needed for jobs change every day. There may be a job that you think you’re awesome at, but you need experience in a field to acquire it. You may desire to work out and get in shape, but the motivation isn’t there.

There will be a time and place for things to happen to make your life better. It’s going to be difficult, but you have to have faith that things will work out. There will be obstacles in your way, and you may never understand why certain things occur. But instead of dreading on the elements you can’t control, focus on the ones that can at least guide you in the direction you want to go. Want a job that you currently don’t have the qualifications for? Take a class to learn the skill. Want to go back to school? Do a little research to find out what one fits your needs.

Patience and dedication are traits we can all learn. Our drive is based on how we approach the obstacle and situation. Don’t be discouraged when things don’t happen immediately. Instead, continue to push the positives to the forefront and remove the negativity of doubt that could hold you back from reaching the pinnacle of your success.