Certain images stand out in my mind throughout life. There is a
LIFE LESSON FROM FEEDING DUCKS.
It could equally apply to feeding geese, seagulls, or pigeons. Imagine you are one of these birds. Some little boy is throwing bread your way. You may or may not get your piece right away. You have to be PATIENT!!
Patience is that act of waiting. It is allowing life to unfold. Those in life like me and maybe you, who like to drive results with persistence stuggle mightily with patience. Patience is the wisdom behind perserverance. It is knowing that some things take time to develop. ESPECIALLY things out of your control. Focus on what you can change and accept what you cannot. Patience is for distant and difficult goals. Hang on with time and the conditions will allow you to succeed.
Gary...
When feeding ducks, I try to make sure that the most timid get something to eat ... but perhaps that is their plan all along?
This is very timely right now with what is going on in our financial systems. I am trying to be patient and I must say, it's creating a bit of anxiety - really want a piece of that bread!
Gary - Patience certainly is a virtue. I'm getting better at it but still have some evolving to do.
Gary,
You know what those ducks, geese, and pigeons do after you feed them...you can't have too much patience and tolerance!!! Thanks, Fran
Gary -- I had to laugh when I saw this post. When I first moved to San Francisco, I had never seen any seagulls (I grew up in Okla). So, I decided to "quack" "quack" at the sea gulls and then feed them. My friend was rolling over with laughter -- I finally asked what was so darn funny -- she asked me why I was quackiing and I told her I was very "patient" and I wanted to feed the San Francisco Ducks -- and wanted to get their attention!
I don't know if I agree with this premise because the greedy ducks seem to get it all. If you don't dive in and fight for the scraps of bread, you might get nothing at all. But then again, nobody has ever accused me of being patient.
Richard: Ah, the timid have a method to their madness!!
Hope: I want the bread NOW!! : )
Jason: I think with patience you have to work on it, knowing what is out of your control.
Fran: Too much patience or tolerance isn't good either.
Joan: I can just see you quacking. Very funny scene.
Elizabeth: So be a greedy and pushy duck? I agree you can't wait around forever and sometimes if you do you will be left with scraps. But on the other hand some things do require patience. Like growing plants.
Gary - nice metaphor about being patient . . . I am with Richard throwing the most timid ducks the bread.
Sharon: You and Richard are too nice.
Gary - ummm, in NY it's a duck eat duck world! I hear you, patience is a virtue. I told that to the buyers I had this weekend who lost out on a bidding war but are sitting as a back-up offer. I told them to be patient while we get out there and look some more and maybe they will be pleasantly surprised if the other deal doesn't go through. I hope I am right!
Carol: Sometimes when a buyer loses a deal, there is something better for them. It's great you are encouraging them to be patient.
No one has patience anymore....it's really a shame. Everyone is speeding through transactions, roadways and life in general.
Hello Nancy: With the speed of life that NEVER seems to slow down it does make you wonder how much more the human mind can cope with. It probably comes back to personal control and tuning out some of the noise.
Hi Pat: Thank you for another GREATdetailed comment. You are writing YOUR blogs with your comments. Great stuff and I love you finding all your sayings. Take your time with your own blog writing Pat. Maybe do short text only blogs, or short ones with just one picture. No rush. Just express yourself. No mandatory frequency. You are already doing great with your commenting. Just put your own thoughts in your blog. You'll be amazed who will find you and read.
Gary my friend, I like to drive but I do not like to get stuck in traffic jams or behind slow drivers. But by the same token I can wait for certain events to just unfold.
Don: I think NO ONE has patience for traffic jams. I think going before or after rush hour or just chilling out is the best approach. Patience in any situation is not easy and we need to know when we need to go with it. Definitely when things are out of your control.
Patience. I strive to have patience but don't know if I always succeed. I love the ducks, by the way....I go to feed them on occasion but hate the fighting :) You're right, they have no patience :)
HI GARY!
I'd like to purchase some patience and a side of high metabolism...make it a lifetime supply. Patience is not one of my best qualities, but I'm working on it!
My three year old grandaughter lives about an hour away, so I only see her about every two weeks. Because of this, I am really enjoying watching her language develop in 'increments'.
She now knows the meaning of the word 'patience', but has to be prompted to practice it! (Don't we all?) Sometimes, when I am impatient myself, the word 'Patience!' just rings in my head now from saying it to her!
Gary, time is so short. The days grow shorter. The chores seem to take longer. The service in the field is nil and it's tough as h-e-double hockey sticks to stay patient. I'm trying...:-)
Later in the rain~Deb
Sounds like wise advice, especially in these markets. You remind me a little of David Carradine from Kung Fu.
What a cute picture, Gary. But why does the picture of ducks remind me of my unpaid bills? I'm patiently waiting for a closing...Yeah for TOMORROW! ;-)
Gary
You are so right about patience..... Recently some agents in our office did a large target mailing. I told them these take time to get results. One commented " we haven't had any results and it has been 2 weeks. Years ago I did a mail-out that actually produced results for 10 years, but it was slow before the first call actually came in.
GARY Love the wonderful picture.
Patience in real estate? That's a tough one for me. Everywhere else, I'm quite proud.
Carole: Ducks are funny with them trying to get the bread. Think of patience next time you feed them and you will laugh.
Yvette: I agree patience is tough to master.
Lynn: Great story. Patience takes practice to understand it.
Pat: You will do great with the blogging I just know it.
Deb: It is not easy to be patient for sure.
Michael: Or Obe-Wan-Kenobe : )
Hi Mara: Good luck with the next closing and be patient : )
Hi Trey: 2 weeks vs. a period of time over ten years. You have great perspective Trey.
Trunda: Good point about patience in real estate. We don't want to wait FOREVER to buy or sell a home : )
Gary-Patience is not one of my stongest points. I do strive to make it better. Being in Real Estate, you really need patiece to deal with all the transactions you face. Thanks for another good blog. I really love your blogs. Please keep them coming.
Hi Laura: Patience in real estate is probably one of the toughest areas in business to apply it to but with the long term perspective on a transaction it is very important to work with it here. It overall is not an easy virtue for me to master either. I'll keep the writings up.
Great blog. I love the reference. What is that old saying..."patience is a virtue". Work hard and focus on those things we can control.
Allen: Patience is definitely called for in areas of our life that are out of our control.
So much wisdom in this little post. Being patient is probably one of the hardest lessons to learn. I know that I tend much more toward wanting instant results. God is teaching me how to wait...how to trust...how to desire HIS way more than I desire MY way. GBU, Gary!
Hi Elizabeth: I think we ALL want instant results. Not just cause of society or fast paced living. We just want to get things done. Things do not always happen on OUR schedule though. That's the understanding we have to come to at times. HIS way is the way if we trust, you are right!!
This is certainly something I need more of. I try & try but still am so impatient at times.
Gary, I have patience, but I could use a whole lot more. Not easy to come by always!
Kristin: It is a work in progress with patience for sure.
Hi William: I think we all could use more patience!
Patients? Yea, I should get me some of that. :) I've found that as I've put on a year years it's come a little easier, tho I still don't have it in large measure. Some things though are definitely worth waiting for.
Hi Jesse: A couple theories on why it gets better. You do REALIZE like you said SOME things are worth waiting for. The other thing is you stop fighting life or you just have less energy as you get older.
Whats even worse.........is being 'patient'........waiting 'patiently' because you're hungry for something.........and then when you finally 'get it'......you find out it really wasn't very good for you! like bread for ducks! lol
Liz: You remind me of that phrase, "Watch what you wish for..." Sometimes what we want is not what we need. I am thankful there's times I didn't get what I wanted. At the time though, I really wanted it. I've learned to trust that I am not really as smart as I think I am LOL.
Gary - I don't know about you, but the seagulls I've seen aren't patient at all. Is this a lesson in the absence of patience?
Hi Sharon: You are right. With 30 seagulls flying above your head wanting that one piece of bread you have, they are not patient. But they must be patient and wait their turn. They don't get it right away. Lack of patience or patience, it is illustrated in that scene for sure. We are the same way. We want it now, but we don't always get it.
The most important lesson I learned from feeding ducks, was to not fall into the pond. I did that once when I was about 4. I was screaming and thrashing about in the water, and my sister yelled, "Stand up" . . .I did, and found I was only in about 2 feet of water. The ducks scrambled to shore.
Hi Myrl: Two feet of water. That's funny. The ducks were more scared of you then you of the water. Great story.
This is a great post . I love the picture. Makes me want to go and see the ducks this morning.