Some Things Take Time…

My toddler is a little too eager to get going in the morning (for his parents’ tastes, anyway…). Cartoons (don’t judge) help delay the inevitable. On one of this morning’s episodes of Curious George, George planted carrots. Imagine the sweet monkey’s disappointment when he realized carrots didn’t grow from seed to ready-to-pick overnight!

One of my responsibilities as a mom is to teach my child to delay gratification, to be patient. If only I could learn that lesson myself!

Not that this life hasn’t offered me plenty of opportunities to learn patience. Seven years passed before I could get pregnant with my first son. My husband and I put in an offer on a house in January and we still haven’t heard the final word on it (but it’s leaning toward a big fat no). I’ve waited for months and months to hear back from publishers or magazines, only to finally receive form rejection letters.

As much as I need to become more patient in dealing with circumstances like these, I have a much harder time being patient with…(drumroll, please):

Myself.

Surprise, surprise.

I am especially impatient with myself when it comes to my writing. Why do I stumble over word placement, trip over plots, slip over descriptions? Why can’t I get the pitch for my book to really sing? Why can’t I just finish editing my manuscript and send it off to agents already?

Bottom line: why can’t I just be a great writer overnight? That would be soooo much better.

Sigh.

But this morning, Curious George’s quest to grow carrots reminded me:

Just keep watering, Angelica. Let the sun shine on your developing talent. Keep it nourished with good earth. 

And if the carrot doesn’t come out a big prizewinner, who is to say it won’t nourish and gladden someone’s heart?

Ps. I know this isn’t my first post on patience. And honestly, it probably won’t be the last, either! =P

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