[NOTE: At the end of this post you will find information about my forthcoming (and first) novel, The Voice in Your Ear]

“One moment of patience may ward off great disaster.
One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.”
~attributed to a Chinese proverb~

In an earlier blog post, we examined whether impatience was virtuous or narcissistic. I finished that piece with these words:

Yes, impatience can move the needle for good. At other times, impatience might be a code word for unrealistic expectations at the present moment. We expend energy on negative reactions rather than positive responses.
We hinder rather than help. We falter rather than persevere.

Today, let’s examine how and may “impatience can move the needle for good.”

My father, born in 1913, has been dead almost as many years as he was alive. He was not the most patient person. Quick-tempered, he was not given to (much) circumspection.

As I thought back on my short time with him on this earth, I remembered two incidents (of many) from my childhood that I would place under the label of impatience. His, not mine. Two incidents that did move the needle for good.

Impatience and the bicycle

The first was when I learned how to ride a two-wheeled bike. I was in 1^st grade and a bit hesitant (to say the least) on the bike. One evening my father quickly removed the training wheels and told me to get on the bike as he held it. Once my feet hit the peddles, he ran a few steps and pushed me down the sidewalk. From that day forth, I rode the bike without incident.

Impatience and Diving

The second was me learning how to dive into a swimming pool. Again, I was young and fearful. We didn’t have a pool at that time, so I did not have much practice. When I did have the opportunity, I’d stand on the side of a pool, bend at my waist with my hands down toward my feet, and drop into the water. Each time I looked like a coconut falling from a tree.

Plop!

One day as I got into my usual failing position, my father came up behind me, put his arm around my waist, and flipped me into the pool. And, it looked like a dive! I came out and repeated it (eventually) on my own.

Impatience and a Lesson

As I look back on those learning experiences, I’ve come to see a lesson. My father’s impatience with me failing over and over (and not looking like I was moving forward in his eyes), moved him to push me (literally) in the direction of success. And it worked for me. At least in those situations.

I am reminded of a quote attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr.,

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

In my case, perhaps I did take the first step but I sure as heck was not even getting close to the next step. Dad’s impatience could’ve yielded different results. But he took a chance and I moved forward and up that metaphorical staircase.

Impatience and My First Novel

Fast forward. By the end of this summer, I will release my first novel. While I have written fourteen non-fiction books, I’ve never had training in this kind of writing. My queries to more than 100 literary agents met with one rejection after another. I made many excuses as to why I should click delete and move on to something else. Finally, I pushed myself to go to the next uncomfortable and unfamiliar step. And then another. And now I’m close to a release date.

I still don’t see the whole staircase but if I remain at the bottom of the stairs, I never will.

~~~~~~~

Stay tuned for my latest book, The Voice in Your Ear. I will post updates on its release (eBook and paperback) on my website.

And you can still order:

• Sharing Wisdom Across the Ages: From Elementary School to Retirement (2023, print and e-book). A non-scientific look at wisdom shared by seven-year-olds to people ninety and older. They answered three (simple?) questions about life. Available on Amazon. More information at the above link.
• Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit (2020, print and e-book). My dog Roxie got top billing on the author page for this work. Without her, there would be no story. Available on Amazon. More information at the above link.
• Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019, print and e-book). Available on Amazon. More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at the above link.
• Stories about Teaching: No Need to be an Island (2017, print and e-book). Available on Amazon. One college’s new faculty onboarding program used the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same. The accompanying videos (see the link above) would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

You can find my podcasts (all fifty episodes) here.

You will find more about me at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2024. Steve Piscitelli
The Growth and Resilience Network®
Atlantic Beach, Florida