It’s human nature to desire something that entices you. No one looks at a pair of shoes and automatically thinks, Hmm… I think I could wait a couple months to buy those when I actually have the money for it. No way. All they’re thinking is, I know that if I buy those shoes right now I’ll feed this gut wrenching desire and be filled with happiness with every step I take in my new shiny shoes. You may ask, why wouldn’t this person just buy the shoes? It’ll make her happy! That, my friend, is because we adults need to learn to exercise self-control and patience. The irrational yearning for something may be cute on kids, but it looks ugly on us.
My parents used to get mad at me when I was little because when I would set my mind on something I became this relentless monster who would not stop pestering them until they gave me exactly what I wanted. When I was in third grade, for reasons unknown, I was dying for a closet system. You know, that contraption you put in your closet that you can place sweatshirts on and hang dresses from? I’m not sure why I needed this so badly as an eight year old, but I was not going to rest until I got it.
There was also a time when my sister and I desperately needed loft beds, or else we were going to scream and cry until that freakishly tall bed was built in our room. It became a running joke in my family -- anytime I would see something I liked and said, “I waaaaaant it” in my young and whiney voice, my parents would say, “loft beds!” Even though they found my persistence hilarious, this was their way of subtly teaching me that it’s better to wait for something you want because that makes it all the more special once it is yours. It made me appreciate those loft beds more than I ever would have otherwise, because for months and months I patiently waited for them.
Instant gratification won’t teach you patience; it’ll make you think that you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it. It will teach you to be greedy and restless. Getting something immediately may be the most satisfying choice, but not the most rewarding one because that feeling won’t last for long. Being impulsive is like getting a rush of adrenaline. It’s exciting for a couple of seconds, but then it goes away, and you move on and pretty instantly forget what you were enthusiastic about moments ago.
I was watching “Sex and the City” the other night, and Carrie Bradshaw said, “Isn’t delayed gratification the definition of maturity?” And it’s true, the more mature we are, the easier it is to battle temptations. That line reminded me of all those times when I was young, immature, and demanding, and I couldn’t accept the baffling idea that everything couldn’t always go my way. But don’t you agree that it feels a million times better to wait for something? It could be for just a week or maybe even months, but when that time finally comes, you’ll look back and notice how much you grew from being patient. There also might be something that you want but never get. You may be left feeling disappointed, but at least you’ve gained mental strength.
Enduring patience leads us to become the best versions of ourselves because we’ve finally accepted the cliché, “good things come to those who wait.” Of course, we will all still have days when we see a loft bed or a closet system (or whatever it is that you may obsessing over), and feel like we just have to buy it, but we can't let temptation take control.
