I was reading about Advent the other day. It wasn’t always just a countdown to Christmas. Instead, advent was a distinct season of its own. The act of waiting was an activity in its own right, with its own rituals and contemplations.
AS a result, this advent, I’ve been trying to be more mindful when I wait, whether I am stuck in traffic, on hold with the bank, or excited to see my kids open their Christmas gifts. I don’t exactly have rituals and contemplations, but I do have questions I ask myself:
- How do I feel while I am waiting? Anxious or joyous? Irritated or at peace?
- What is enjoyable about this wait?
- What is this wait teaching me?
- What is unexpected about where I am?
