I don’t typically think about New Year’s resolutions, but I have one for 2026: I’d like to work on my patience.
For most things, I’m not a patient person. I highly value my time, and I try to value other people’s time—I consider that part of being a considerate human.
I was recently in a situation where my impatience rose to the surface due to the confluence of a few factors: I was at a theme park for a limited amount of time, and I was with a group of 5 other people. In other words, I was frequently required to wait for other people in a place where I was constantly reminded of the wait times for every ride, show, and experience.
In hindsight, there were multiple ways I could have handled the situation better than I actually did (most of my responses were internal, but there were a few times that I just started walking): I could have bought the express passes to remove the time pressure of wait times, and I could have better used my phone as a distraction tool.
But perhaps most importantly, I could have simply enjoyed the wonder of the present. We were in a magical place with beautiful weather. I was with delightful people, and we were surrounded by excellent people-watching opportunities. Can’t I just enjoy the present, even if it’s inefficient use of time?
So that’s what I want to work on in 2026. Are you trying to improve anything about yourself next year?
If you want to spend your time usefully on your phone while waiting, I can recommend Kinnu. It makes you feel better about scrolling your phone. You learn something useful.
Other than that: I normally don’t have New Year’s resolutions, but this year I have an ambitious list. The short version is that I want to consume less, and more consciously. https://webpalet.titeca.net/2025-12/resolutions-2026/
Thanks for that recommendation, and I like the idea of an ambitious list! A lot of what’s on your list resonates with me.
I’m with you—I’m not a patient person when I know something could be done more efficiently, appropriately, etc. I don’t really have a resolution for next year but I do want to just slow down and take things less seriously. lol. To an extent.
I appreciate you relating this this, and I like the idea of reminding myself of how low the stakes often are when I’m feeling impatient.
I’m not very patient. But I’m reminded of the childhood nursery rhyme:
“PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE,
VIRTUE IS A GRACE,
GRACE IS A LITTLE GIRL
WHO DIDN’T WASH HER FACE”
That’s certainly memorable! 🙂
I used to be like you. Then I lived in the Philippines where in some parts, no one believed in “lines” such that when I returned to the US, I learned to appreciate the orderliness of my fellow grocery shoppers standing in line. Sometimes I pick a longer line so I can practice patience and revel in society-created concept of a “line” and look at other people standing in line with adoration. You don’t appreciate something until it’s gone.
That’s a fascinating perspective! Thanks for sharing. I do a different version of this with stairs and parking lots: I know there will probably come a day when my body needs me to take the escalator or park as close as possible to a store. But since I currently have the health to take the stairs and walk from across the parking lot, I’ll choose the more arduous option so I don’t take my health for granted.
I’ve thought a lot about this, ever since you brought it up earlier, and I too am an impatient person, in certain situations. I want to try to be a much more patient, but especially with my kids. They seem to know how to and delight in pushing my buttons, but I need to be a bit more tolerant of that!
Kids are adept at pushing buttons! I’m impressed by any parental patience.
I’m not a patient person by nature so I have to work on it a lot. Put me in a parking lot looking for a space and I LOSE my mind. By the way, my theory is that patience is relate to how fast of a walker you are. I can’t walk slow it drives me crazy and I think it’s related. How fast do you usually walk?
I think your theory is solid–unless I really intentionally slow down, I’m always walking in front, often way out in front on hikes.