Dairy
Week Eleven. Sunday 22, March 2020 – Sunday 29, March 2020
This week started off to a good start. I had a goodnight’s sleep, interacted with friends, and even tried cooking for the first time. During the cooking process, I learned a lot when it comes to patience. The food does not cook better when the heat is too high. The excess heat will evaporate the water and the food burns. The cooking process taught me that patience, as a virtue, requires the right tools and techniques to achieve. Sweeter foods take long to prepare, and the outcome is splendid. I had not included cooking as a method of effectuating my virtue, but I believe I will be using it now.
Thanks to the time spent on cooking, I was patient. In this particular week, I would rate myself 10/10. I never lost patience at any point in time. I appreciated small gestures, and I also got a new activity to help me achieve the virtue of patience.
Week Twelve. Monday 30, March to Sunday 5, April 2020
During this week, my work schedule was hectic. I had a few time-sensitive presentations. The presentations were a group presentation and not a solo presentation; hence there was the need for the group’s input. I was infuriated when I did my part of the job while one of our colleagues did not do theirs. His mistake would be our mistake, which was unfair to other group members who had done their part and me. I was disappointed with myself because I lost my temper and lashed out at him. I was also impatient with him when he asked for an extension and denied him and not getting to understand where he was coming from.
My impatience with him, however, came to haunt me, for I learned he had taken his sister to the hospital who had been sick for quite some time. I was disappointed with myself for not being human to him and understanding his situation. During this situation, I reflected on Bommarito’s article that patience is a matter of perspective. I lost my perspective on the case because I did not listen to him. I later apologized, and we did mend fences. Despite this bump at the start of the week, I had some good times where I still maintained a good relationship at the coffee shop. Overall, I would rate myself 6.5/10. I need to start listening to people before jumping into a conclusion.
Week Thirteen. Monday 6, April 2020 – Sunday 12, April 2020
Throughout the week, I continued with gratitude as a method of improving my virtue. I started by calling home and talking to my parents. We did catch up and talked about what they needed and what their plans were. I understood that for a very long time, I had been a very selfish person when communicating with my parents. During our weekly communications, we were always talking about me and all that I wanted or needed then. We never at any point in time, discuss them and what they wanted. It felt good for once to talk about another person’s life. I practiced patience by not downplaying some of the successes that my parents saw as significant while I considered regular daily routines.
During the week, I identified a new trigger, rudeness. When a person spoke or appeared rude, I would lose patience with them. This exaggerated the already tense environment that we were in at that moment. Rudeness struck a nerve in me that made me not want to work with a person. However, I concluded that some people, although rude, we need them. As such, we need to grow a thick skin and overcome such rudeness.
On Thursday, I interacted with some of my friends. During our interaction, I realized some of my friends were extremely impatient. When we ordered something and had not arrived by the time we were expecting, we lost our patience. When the delivery was made, we lashed out at the delivery guy. However, I felt terrible and hoped that I would have handled the situation better. Peer pressure had a powerful impact. I think I will review my friendship while improving on my virtue. The week had its ups and downs, and I would rate myself 5/10.
Week Fourteen. Monday 13, April 2020 – Sunday 19 April 2020
Despite the previous week’s failures, this week, I was determined to succeed. With the lockdown in place, I became easily irritable and becoming short-tempered. However, despite all this, I was patient with myself and the people I interacted with online. Being confined in my house was having a negative effect on me. I missed the days that I could walk around and admire the outside world. I missed the coffee lines and the irritating people on the sidewalks who would sometimes ask stupid questions.
During this week, I called home a lot and spoke to my parents frequently. We talked for four times this week compared to the regular one call a week. During our interaction, my dad and I spoke without any one of us becoming impatient. He was concerned about my health, both physical and emotional. He informed me of the news reaching them back at home and how they were praying for me. Previously, I would have hanged upon them, but this was different. I was patient, and I was yarning to listen to him. I learned that through care, one could build the virtue of patience. I felt my dad’s care towards me, and I was patient with him.
Although I had given up on meditation, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and I decided to try it again. However, the results were not positive. I continued with my cooking as it was working better for me. Overall, I would rate my success this week a 10/10. I am always impatient with my dad because he is also an impatient man. The fact that both of us did not become impatient meant I had shown vast signs of growth.
Week Fifteen. Monday 20, April 2020 – Saturday 26, April 2020
Our patience is tested when our options are limited. We are tested on how long we can be patient and hope for this to change for the better. During the first days of lockdown, it was all fun and games. I enjoyed stayed indoors. However, my patience began to be tested when I missed going out. I would pip through the windows, but I would not step outside fearing the virus and how it would affect the people I love and me. As such, I continued to be patient as I wait for this pandemic to be over.
During this week, I have learned a few crucial lessons on how to develop my virtue of patience. Thanks to the fear of contracting coronavirus, I managed to be patient and stay indoors. With this, I believe I can implement a punishment and reward structure where I subject myself to some sort of punishment or activity that I do not find fun having when I become impatient. However, if I am patient, I can reward myself. For instance, I can give out a jacket every day when I am impatient. I believe the act of giving out my coat will inflict the much-needed pain and ensure I do not become impatient. However, if I am patient, not only will I keep my jacket but also get a pair of sneakers.
During this week, the chances of being impatient to have reduced, and therefore, I have been relatively patient. I have also come up with a new system of developing my virtue. Although it was not listed on my character project, I believe it will come in handy in developing my virtue. During this week, I think I have been successful, but with the little instance or possibilities of being impatient, and I rate myself 8/10.
Week Sixteen. Monday 27, April 2020 – Saturday 3, May 2020
With the course coming to an end, I had a chance to review all that I had achieved or not achieved throughout the semester. At the beginning of the semester, I was not patient at all. I never gave people a chance to speak or express themselves. However, I can now listen to people. I can tolerate long queues at the coffee shop without being angry or agitated. I can guide my mom on how to use a new application on the computer via phone without being impatient and wondering how she could not understand such an essential component. I must also say the relationship between my girlfriend and I have improved significantly.
I have read a lot on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and I now understand why he insisted on human beings being patient with fellow human beings. I have also learned that forgiveness is also part of being patient. Gratitude also forms part of being patient.
In a nutshell, I have used this week to take stock of the changes that I have had, and I am proud of the person I am becoming. Despite the course coming to an end, I feel good about myself, and I am going to continue improving and being better. I rate myself an 8/10 with room for more improvement.