“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – commonly attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. I love this quote and have actually posted it on the wall in our home office. Like many, I can be very impatient, and this quote reminds me that good things come in time – often in God’s time, not mine.
Here’s a definition of patient from Merriam-Webster: (adjective) steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. Both the quote and definition remind me that instant gratification is the route to frustration, restlessness, and discontent. When I put in the work, with a slow and steady hand, and I strive to be consistent day after day, I make progress.
Consistency is something I struggle with. As someone with a mood disorder, I can get too high or too low. Consistency takes a certain amount of discipline, something I keep striving for. Consistency in work, in relationships, in love – an overall steadiness.
This quote is usually attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was a towering intellectual figure in America in the 19th century. Emerson was what was known as a transcendalist, and he wrote essays, gave speeches, and championed individualism and not conforming to the pressures of mainstream society.
I’ve gained much inspiration from Emerson’s writings over the years – I have a huge book of his essays that I’ll probably never finish, but one I like to peruse from time to time. He wrote in an archaic style – his essays are a difficult read; challenging but ultimately fulfilling.
Today, I remind myself about patience and nature’s way – the way of consistency, steadiness, and facing adversity a day at a time.
