Topical Guide 160
Mark Dorset
Anticipation; Suspense; Impatience
It was with nervous anticipation that we shuffled through the hallways to the auditorium, because all of us assumed that once Mr. Simon had finished explaining the rules, he would announce the winner of the name-the-school contest. …
I took a deep breath and held it. My heart was pounding. All around me, boys and girls took deep breaths of their own and held them. The auditorium was eerily quiet, except for the muffled rumble of our pounding hearts.Little Follies, “Take the Long Way Home”
Impatience has its roots in frustration. …
Impatience has a range of symptoms. Physical signs can include shallow, fast breathing, muscle tension, and hand clenching. Or you may find yourself restlessly jiggling your feet. …
You may become irritable, angry, or experience anxiety or nervousness. …
Take deep, slow breaths, and count to 10. Doing this will slow your heart rate, relax your body, and distance you emotionally from the situation. Sometimes you might need a longer count, or to repeat the process several times. …
Force yourself to slow down. Make yourself speak and move more slowly. It will appear to others as if you’re calm—and acting patient often makes you feel more patient.The Mind Tools Content Team, “Patience: Don’t Let Frustration Get the Better of You,” Mind Tools
Cliffhanger; Frustration
“In just a minute,” said Mr. Simon, “Mr. Simone is going to—”
I swallowed hard. I wiped my palms on my pants. “This is it,” said Raskol. …
“—explain your room assignments and your lunch, gym, art, music, and recess schedules to you,” said Mr. Simon. A unanimous groan escaped from us.Little Follies, “Take the Long Way Home”
[more to come on Monday, December 27, 2021]
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