Do you remember those old dial-up modems that let us slowly, squeakily access the internet? (If you don’t, then you’ve led a life of ease, without much suffering).

Oh, the agony of waiting for a simple webpage to load!

Now, we have instant access to pretty much anything we want to know and do right from our phones. We stream movies, order food for delivery, and shop with a click. (I’m still amazed that I could order a new water filter for my fridge last night at 8pm and have it sitting on my front porch, ready for installation, before 7am coffee time this morning. Wow.).

We're a culture that thrives on "right now!"

The only trouble?

Life doesn't often work too well on a 'get it now' schedule.

Some of the best things – relationships, career achievements, reaching those fitness goals, and a decent cup of coffee – all take time. (Especially the coffee example here. Seriously, there should be laws against that instant coffee stuff!)

Like planting a seed, there's a waiting period between when you start and when you see those beautiful results.

So where does that leave all of us who are now so accustomed to tapping a screen for instant gratification?

It means we need a serious dose of patience!

If you're the kind of person who's constantly tapping their foot, sighing heavily, and generally feeling fidgety any time things don't materialize at lightning speed, you're not alone.

But here's the thing: when you rush the process, whatever that process is, you often end up with a less-than-stellar result.

Think of a cake that's pulled out of the oven too early. Yeah, it's edible (maybe), but it's a gooey mess, not a fluffy delight.

Or back to the coffee example. A quick option exists, but the instant result isn’t very tasty. At all.

The most beautiful, rewarding, and tasty things in life take work, dedication, and, yes, patience.

When you plant a flower garden, you can't expect a riot of blooms overnight. It takes time, tending the soil, watering, weeding, and waiting for those buds to form and burst open.

Life is basically a big garden, and we're the gardeners. We plant seeds – a new career path, a healthier lifestyle, a loving relationship.

It takes patience to see those efforts through to that beautiful harvest you're dreaming of.

The best things take time, my friend.

Waiting might be frustrating, but believe me – the good stuff is worth the wait. 🙂