During the past week, I was keenly aware of being in 'waiting mode' as I waited for power to be restored from our ice storm. I've also been in 'worrying' mode as my cat went through some kind of unknown illness. When I reflected on this, I did a search through my library to find wisdom in working with "waiting" and stress. Here's a reading I found useful. It feels like a lifelong practice!

"Since Patience, by definition, can only be present in response to a visiting stress, perfecting Patience depends on being able to feel at home, to relax in the middle of the tension of waiting for the stress to be gone. Patience remains present as long as the mind remembers that things end ("This stress will leave, sometime") when their conditioning causes end ("I am not in charge"). Wise Concentration keeps the mind tranquil and the body comfortable so that Patience can keep itself from running out."

Sylvia Boorstein, Pay Attention, For Goodness Sake