Few mental images correspond to feelings of anticipation like that of a 16-year-old me standing outside of a 1 Hour Photo shop at the mall, waiting for film to develop.
Within 55 minutes after film drop-off, friends and I would begin staring through the shop window, foreheads against the glass, studying the carousel of glossy pictures slowly emerging from the photo machine, our necks craned, eyes squinting, excited by the prospect of reliving memories now preserved by the modern-day gift that was Kodachrome.
Of all the time saving technology to enter the mainstream in my lifetime—the microwave, GPS, remote control everything—digital photography feels, to me, like one of the bigger cultural shifts.
Gone is the anticipation of waiting to see if the light was right, if both eyes were open, how many birthday candles survived the first blow. Now we can take 20 photos, review them immediately, deleting that one where so-and-so was talking and it makes them look drunk.
I have embraced countless new technologies over decades, but what I have gained in efficiency, I have regrettably and undeniably lost in patience. What was once the excitement of anticipation now feels like a countdown clock on the gameshow that is life.
Tell me, can you relate?
Let's imagine a scale of one to ten — ten being that you could sit alone, in silence, until the next season of cicadas are due to arrive; one being that a long line at the grocery store leaves you questioning if food is even that important. On the scale of 1 to 10, how patient are you?
Let's explore anticipation and what that feel like to you, is it a good thing or does it make you antsy?
More notably, how is patience—or a lack thereof— impacting your long term goals? Is it helping or hindering you?
Does down time feel like wasted time, and, if so, why?
As your coach, my aim is to help you focus on what it is you're working toward, not stress you out with a ticking time clock. I'll help you identify realistic and helpful milestones in order to measure your progress, and, as much as possible, help you enjoy the anticipation of what it is you are working toward.
Think of it as a couple of teenagers, foreheads against the glass, excited about the prospects of what is yet to come. Sounds like old time fun to me.