The Importance of Patience

Now this isn't something that all INFPs will relate to, but I believe the reasons why this is important to me has a lot to do with my personality type. This was a thread I started myself, and there were mixed replies as to whether other INFPs felt they were strong or weak in the area of patience.

 I find that one of the few things that makes me impatient is the impatience of others.

Personally, I'm constantly waiting on others. I feel like I'm always in stand by mode when I'm around people. I wait patiently while they do things, or get things, or finnish things or whatever. I never pester or nag, I just stand to the side and watch them, or space out. I wait because I don't want to pressure them. I wait because I don't want to get in their way. I wait because I want them to be really ready for whatever it is we're going to do together or talk about because I want them to enjoy a quality interaction, rather than a distracted and hurried one. I wait because honnestly what's 10 minutes here or half an hour there in the grand scheme of things? Whatever. Life will happen when it happens and it's all good....or something like that.  But it seems like, for the most part, all I am ever served back for my limitless patience with others is nag nag nag, get out of my way, hurry up, don't be late, you took too long, blah blah blah. What is with this epidemic of people who can't wait two secconds for anyone? It really gets on my nerves when people can't just wait a little. (Most of the time it's really just like that same old scenario where someone speeds and cuts you off just to be stopped at the same stoplight a block up. ) Aren't relationships with others worth a little more patience? I always tell people to take their time, and I mean it. I usually don't mind waiting because I can always entertain myself with a daydream, and most of the time whatever it is I was gonna do isn't that urgent. 

 I think for me waiting really has a root in the value of 'quality' experiences, creating ideal moments. I feel that rushing things takes away from the full potential of the moment, so I've never understood the need to do/have everything instantly.  Connecting with others is also a value that fuels my willingness to wait. I want to enjoy connection with someone, so if we're doing something 'together' I want to make sure it really is together rather than me 10 paces ahead of them, if you know what I mean. Of course I'm going to wait for you to finnish your dinner and then go get dessert for both of us at the same time. Of course I'm going to wait untill you catch up with me before I continue walking down the road. Of course I'm going to pause the movie so you can go to the bathroom, and wait to press play untill you're all settled again and signal me to start it. Of course I'll wait till you're done reading before I scroll down so we can be processing the same infomation at the same time - together. I think it's the lack of care for togetherness that I see in people's impatience which really gets under my skin.