The Limits of Patience
Who says "Patience is a virtue?" The ones who force you to wait for them. Enduring a slow cashier today: there is a difference between meticulously taking your time and going so slowly one might need to check for a pulse.
I could feel myself aging. Obviously she was paid by the hour. I was not necessarily in a hurry. If I were on a thirty minute lunch break (it is odd that thirty minutes is too short while one hour is too long.) she would have eaten most of the time.
Growing up with dawdlers it could feel like being held hostage. For someone who never surfed my father would say "Hang loose." No wonder he was late for everything. When you depend on someone who has no urgency and forces others to wait for them it is not good. the Washington National Cathedral did not take as long to finish as this transaction.
There is nothing wrong waiting for something. Life is a waiting game. Some wait for retirement. Don't do that. Live your best life and retire when the time comes. Many who wait for the weekend accomplish nothing on Saturday or Sunday.
In my driving position there were slow designers. I had to wait for time deliveries. If there were no deadline? Finish it when you can. When I had a party that had to be delivered by 11:30 and they took an hour? One designer was mad that I waited in the vicinity.
If they needed something I would have picked it up in the back cooler. Not looking over their shoulder- I could not do anything else. That position had very few side projects. I had the urgency of delivering before a deadline. They went as slowly as usual. Oh well: they are in the same place. Growing older and not advancing.
This is the "Comfort Zone of Misery" various people discuss. It is no way to live your life. Being slow and doing the minimum on your job does not lead to advancement. Some cashiers read the receipt. As if that is customer service.
One said "You saved nine cents on your order." That led me to reply "Does that mean drinks are on me?" Her reply was "Huh?" Give everyone a chance. If they don't want to engage? Find someone who does. Don't make others wait. Life is short unless you are line behind someone taking forever.