Patience tested

After a year of quarantine, the National Capital Region and its neighboring provinces have been put under the strictest form of quarantine for the past few weeks. This is valid even though those areas have already been subjected to a less strict or modified quarantine. It seems as if progressing or escaping the strict quarantine is difficult.

Our health workers are weary, businesses are agitated, and our government's financial coffers seem to have been depleted for extended financial assistance to the vulnerable. Since they are drained and torn, some are blaming others—the government, the Department of Health, and so on.

But when will we really declare that we've reached the end of the road and raise our surrender flags? "Enough!" we say as we reach the end of the line. We're up against an unseen enemy. To point the sword's sharp end, we won't be able to find out the shape, size, or composition. We should, however, alter our strategies and behaviors in order to overcome it.

This is a real measure of stamina. There are many circumstances in life that put our patience to the test. Having children with diverse personalities is a test of patience for parents. On the other hand, it takes a lot of maturity to be a child with parents in their golden years. We have friends and family members for whom our voices are unheard of, and who, despite our pleadings, refuse to listen to us.

In our daily undertakings, we are persuaded that each of us has had to control our feelings on several occasions. Thousands of others, on the other hand, have what others refer to as a hair trigger, which means they are quickly provoked to outbursts of temper or a wicked and hurtful tongue. Is it true that having a hair trigger temper means we'll still fly off the handle while others seem to be able to handle it?

Things in life can be aggravating at times. This is why we all need to be patient with one another. Even the most patient people recognize how much patience resembles a well; a well can seem infinite at times, but even the deepest wells have their limits.

And if we feel as if our tolerance cup is running dry, we can draw strength from the many wonderful encounters that will replenish the drained cup. The birth of a new child gives hope to a family, a family member's accomplishment brings happiness to the whole clan, and many other milestones have made us focus on the many blessings life has to offer.

Dealing with tough circumstances is a learned skill that takes time to master. We will be rewarded with lower stress levels, as well as improved happiness and well-being, if we can master this skill. If we learn and exercise patience, we will be less irritated, sad, and tired. We have more emotional control and are better prepared to deal with adversity.

After all, patience is measured by how well one acts when waiting, not by how long one may wait. Even if we don't know when the pandemic will stop or where it will take us, we can rest assured that there will be positive things and lessons along the way. We simply don't do things we'll come to regret later because a moment of restraint in a moment of rage prevents a thousand regrets.