Guest Blogger: Love Notes from the Fickle Monster, Part 9

I used to consider myself a patient person.



Yep, me in the middle surrounded by a few fantastic students and thirty more pounds.



Then, I decided to lose weight.

Confession: I'm not patient. I like things quick and painless. Perhaps I simply like to see immediate results which is why the microwave is such an amazing tool. I like to put something in, press buttons, and pull it out just three minutes later, finished, perfect, ready.

Well, let's face it. We all know the truth: life does not work in such ways. Immediacy is improbable with many of the things we want most, particularly for those of us trying to live healthy and drop the pounds. I started losing weight last April. At that point I was considered obese and my body fat ratio was off the charts. One year later, I am still losing weight. I am STILL considered overweight and my fat ratio is in the high category. Still. STILL!

My reflex is to say SCREW YOU to the scale, grab a Diet Coke, Peanut Butter Snickers or a bowl of pasta, and jump on the couch for a Drew Barrymore movie marathon. Her weight has yo-yoed; she understands me.

That's my girl!

Well, patience is changing my reflexes, my expectations, my life.
I could easily grow frustrated, angry even, resentful of the time taken for this process, but patience, Cora, patience. I could easily crash diet, purchase the plans, or expidite the loss in other ways, but I am not just losing weight, I am transforming my life, hoping to maintain this temple God graciously gave me until this shell returns to dust. I am LEARNING things every day through this process, to do this any other way would forfeit an abundance of knowledge. Patience encourages proper growth. Patience is not volitile or wavering or fleeting particularly when our expectations to not align with reality.



So my hair has gotten bigger, and I have a little room in my shirt now.

If I am downright honest with myself, I see progress every day in areas of my life where patience is practiced. My body is changing. My habits are changing. I am exploring life in steps, slowly and diligently.

Skipping steps would be allowing myself to miss something,
like skimming a book and never meeting a great character
or listening to a song and never hearing the second verse
or eating a pie and....wait, just stay away from pie.
Meaning is discovered during the moments in between.

Patience is not a microwave, a pill, or hairdryer.
It is natural but sometimes feels unnatural. It is good.
Let it transform you. May it transform me.
I dare us.

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Cora Ruth Flottman is the best friend, college room8 and a complete inspiration to Sheila.


She is an actress, teacher, christian, lover of the written word and men who can change the tires on a car.

She blogs here every Friday.