"When I receive my coffee, it should be ready for me to drink it," demanded an irate customer to the young employee. Mixing two sugars and a creamer into her $1 cup of coffee appeared to be too much for her. Jump to a few day earlier where I observed another disgruntled customer, this time in a well-known coffee establishment. There was an average line that was moving quickly, but for this person not quickly enough. My attention was pulled by an audible groan coupled with huffing and puffing from a slightly frazzled young lady. The impatience she felt was written all over her face and she clearly wanted everyone around her to know that she was upset.
These are just two short accounts of a growing sense of impatience and entitlement I have seen in these recent weeks. I have also noticed this taking root in me. That is the most alarming part. I strive to remain grounded in my upbringing that taught me you work for what you get and that you treat others better than yourself. I was brought up to have patience and to mind your manners. I can think of so many other things I was taught, but these seem to fit the situations I encountered so well.
Why do we grow so impatient? Where is this massive sense of urgency and entitlement coming from? Have we gotten to the point where waiting a few minutes to receive an already prepared beverage is just too much to bear? We, yes I do include myself, have developed into a society that needs everything now and in the way that we wanted it -regardless of what it will mean for others.
I've become more aware as I've pondered this issue, and it is clear that this is not limited to just one portion of my life, but pervades all areas. I particularly am very impatient while driving. I often think only of my need to get somewhere that I am going and spend no time thinking of others around me that may be on more urgent errands. Am I upset because they are driving slow, cut me off, and would not drive through that yellow light; or, am I really upset because I am running late due to my lack of planning or discipline?
When I am annoyed at someone inconveniencing me I often jump to the conclusion that the person is doing it on purpose. That they are out to get me. This is a grossly selfish outlook on life. Living life with the notion that everything revolves around the fulfillment of my wants and needs is ludicrous. It will only drive me to impatience and ultimately to feeling insulted by any inconvenience.
Entitlement and impatience won't go away by just wishing them away. I have to work at it daily by adjusting my world view. I must slow down, take a breath, and remember that the world is bigger than just me. I need to remind myself to think of every situation from a different perspective - that of others. I must keep in mind that a convenience for me will most assuredly constitute an inconvenience for them.
