等待也是一種智慧。人生，要學會堅持，也要學會放棄；要學會尋找，也要學會等待。等待并不是膽小，而是準備；不是懦弱，而是智慧。機會需要把握，也需要等待。如果不等準備好便出發(fā)，那么可能就是失敗。

The older I get （Im 53） the more I realize that life often moves at a slower pace than Id like. This runs contrary to the view today that life is moving faster than the speed of light， that were all running around so quickly that we dont have the time to think. Yes， we have picked up the pace due to technology， but there still exists a time frame that sometimes runs as slowly as snails.

隨著年齡增長（我53歲），我愈發(fā)意識到生活的節(jié)奏比我想的要慢得多。這與今天的關于生活的速度比光速快，我們四處奔忙而沒有時間去思考的觀點背道而馳。是的，科技的發(fā)展讓我們得跟上節(jié)奏，但仍有這樣的一種時間框架，有時和蝸牛一樣慢。

Furthermore， I have learned that rushing things can often be a form of suicide. If we try to speed up the natural pace of existence， it can be harmful.

此外，我知道，行事匆匆往往像是自殺的一種方式。如果我們試圖加快自然的速度，則可能是無益的。

Lately， Ive noticed the importance of waiting patiently in three areas. Lets look at them below.

最近，我注意到了耐心等待的重要性的三個方面。讓我們來一起看看。

Waiting out people to respond to you.

等待人們對你的回應。

I learned the importance of this kind of waiting when I was dating my future husband. Stephen was a shy， cautious1 young man. I fell in love with him at first sight， and I really wanted to call him and move the relationship forward. Stephen wasnt calling me， and I so wanted to communicate with him. But I knew if I was too pushy2， he might be turned off.

當我和我的未來丈夫約會的時候，我了解到了這種等待的重要性。史蒂芬是一個害羞，謹慎的年輕人。我第一眼看到他就愛上了他。我真的很想打電話給他，把關系向前推進一點。史蒂芬沒有打電話給我，我很想和他聊一下。但我知道如果我太積極了，他可能就被嚇跑了。

In a kind of “l(fā)ove promise，” I purchased a tea set for him， which included a tea cup， honey sticks and a box of peppermint3 tea. I loved tea， and I wanted to share this delicious drink with him. While I was ordering the set through the mail， I prayed a silent prayer， “Dear Lord， I am purchasing this tea set with the hopes that one day soon Stephen and I can sit down and share a wonderful cup of tea and get to know each other.”

沉浸在一種“愛的承諾”中，我買了一套茶具給他，包括一個茶壺，蜂蜜攪拌棒和一盒薄荷茶。我喜歡茶，我想和他一起分享這美味的飲料。當我在郵件中訂購的時候，我默默祈禱著，“上帝啊，我購買了這套茶具，希望不久后有一天，史蒂芬和我可以坐下一起分享一壺美妙的茶，互相了解?！?/p>

In short， I waited him out. And about two weeks after our first date， he called.

總之，我等他出來。我們的第一次約會后的大約兩個星期后，他打了電話。

And we did drink our tea.

我們確實一起喝了茶。

The rest is history. Weve been married 17 years.

剩下的就是歷史了。我們結婚17年了。

Im so glad I waited for him to call me.

我很高興當時等著他給我打電話。

Waiting out things in the workplace.

在工作場所等待事情。

As a writer， I have to wait for editors to make their moves. I cant be emailing them every five minutes to find out if they love my work. Sometimes， I have to wait months for editors to make decisions. And this is the age of the Internet！I remember the olden days of snail mail. Things really took a long time then.

作為一個作家，我必須等待編輯們的行動。我不能每隔五分鐘就給他們發(fā)一次電子郵件來詢問他們是否喜歡我的作品。有時，我不得不花幾個月的時間來等待編輯做出決定?，F在是互聯網的時代了！我記得過去蝸牛般速度的郵件。那個時候事情真的很花時間。

I have to say that over the 35 years that Ive been a professional writer， and Ive gotten used to waiting.

我不得不說，在過去的35年，我一直是個專業(yè)的作家，我已經習慣了等待。

I think of the old motto， “Good things come to those who wait.”

我想起了一句古老的格言：“好東西是等來的?！?/p>

Waiting out bad situations.

等待糟糕的情況結束。

Often， a bad situation doesnt disapp-

ear instantly. This is unfortunate， but true.

通常情況下，糟糕的情況不會立即結束。這是不幸的，但是真實的。

For instance， my son was having some behavioral problems at school. It seemed that he was getting into trouble every day. The problems appeared to be stemming from4 his attempts to get used to sixth grade. My son didnt do well with new experiences. Conse-

quently， he sometimes acted out negatively.

例如，我的兒子在學校里言行舉止上有一些問題。他似乎每天都在惹麻煩。問題在于他試圖適應六年級。他面對新的體驗無所適從。因此，他有時表現出消極的行為。

But as the weeks passed， he got used to the new procedures， students and teachers， and the behavioral problems faded away.

但幾周過去之后，他習慣了新的進度、新的同學和老師，于是他的問題消失了。

Things improved， granted at a slow pace， but they improved. Thank you， Lord.

事情有所改善，雖然速度很慢，但總算是情況愈變愈好。感謝上帝。

In conclusion， sometimes its best to exercise extreme patience， to go with lifes slow flow.

總之，有時最好鍛煉一下極度的耐心，去與生活的慢流同步。

Resolution takes time.

解決問題需要時間。

Best we learn this as soon as possible.

我們最好盡快學會這一點。