Article December 30, 2002 Issue

Is waiting a waste of time, or a time to LISTEN?

BY MERELICE

A FORMER WORK COLLEAGUE OF MINE used to tear off in so many directions at once that sometimes her friends would give a new twist to an old saying. "Don't just do something; stand there!" they'd urge.

During this season when people mark the passage of time and make resolutions about things to accomplish in the coming year, the subject of "standing there" or "waiting" rarely makes either the to-do list or the list of good ways to improve your time.

But still, "Rushing around smartly is no proof of accomplishing much," wrote a woman who, I think, accomplished significantly more than most people. In the same article she said, "Success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing" (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 230).