What the doctor ‘ordered’

When I finally make it into the doctor’s office, I spread out what I have crocheted from a 1913 pattern of Queen Anne’s lace and say, “This is what waiting looks like. I crocheted all of this while I was waiting to see you.” The doctor usually looks a little horrified because he can tell it is a lot of work. If I happened to be reading a book, I show him all the pages I have read. That is an equally sobering experience for doctors.

Having some reading or crocheting to do works especially well in government offices where you sometimes have to wait half a day to get to see a public servant who will most likely send you on a wild goose chase rather than help you. I don’t show public servants what waiting looks like. They wouldn’t care. As a matter of fact, they would take pride in their passive-aggressive way at how much of my time they managed to waste.

Still, I have the final laugh because I had a good, relaxing time while I was waiting. No one can make me feel angry or edgy because I just got some free crocheting or reading time in. Chances are I would not have been able to give myself that time to read or crochet if I wasn’t waiting because I would have been doing some kind of work instead.

I’ve never understood how people can go to an office — any office — and just sit there passively waiting for their name to be called. They are obviously frustrated with the wait. They are obviously unhappy, bored and even tired. Have you ever noticed how many people fall asleep on themselves while they’re waiting to see a doctor or some government bureaucrat? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. Why not lose yourself in a good story? Books really are a great escape. Cell phones are not an escape. They’re a waste of time.

Sitting in an office playing on your cell phone accomplishes nothing.

But reading means you are learning something new about yourself or the world. Reading means doing something constructive in a situation that is very frustrating.

Nobody enjoys waiting, but there is a good feeling when you can prevent anyone from robbing you of valuable time. And reading really is an invaluable experience.

A few weeks ago, I had to go to the hospital every day to change the dressing on a minor surgery that I had. I managed to read an entire book, Lenin on the Train by Catherine Merridale.

I looked forward to going to the hospital every day to read my book because I wasn’t going to read that book anywhere else. I actually began to enjoy my quiet time, and the heady experience of feeling like I was in control of an uncontrollable situation: waiting.

I could disappear inside of my book no matter how many people were around me.

Now, when I think of the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution and a great book I read — Lenin on the Train — I will remember where I read that book and feel a sense of accomplishment.

It takes some skill to train yourself to read in a hospital or an office, but when you do, you feel a certain peace. It’s like meditating.

It’s an exercise in relaxation and an exercise in patience.

We all need more patience.

We all need to learn to turn frustration into relaxation.