Editor’s note: Patience is a virtue

Heading into the annual festive ‘silly season’, life for many of us will be more hectic than usual, tempers will fray, and emotions will get the better of some of us. None of this is unusual, yet there are a few practices that can make life easier.

Many of them are clichés. As a rule, I loathe clichés (terminology for over-used, hackneyed sayings), yet there are times when they fit the bill perfectly. The silly season is one of those times, a few weeks when we remember that clichés originated to provide short, sharp advice in certain situations, including turmoil.

Growing up, I was often told that ‘patience is a virtue’, and I’ve frequently found it helpful when queuing… in traffic, ticket lines, admittance to shows etc. Getting impatient, upset, loud, and berating others won’t change the situation, so suck it up. Wait patiently and your turn will come, without you raising your blood pressure several notches, or threatening to burst a blood vessel.

When situations start to happen, take a deep breath, and think about how they can be resolved without hassle. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, don’t cry over spilt milk, and definitely don’t rush in where angels fear to tread.

Road rage is a classic example. When others drivers cut you off, forget to indicate, flip you the bird, there’s no point boiling over about it. The only person stressing is likely to be you, and you don’t need that.

Lead by example, such as making room on a footpath for people to pass, instead of spreading right across it. Take some advice from the biblical concept to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Lastly, remember that you get more bees with honey than with vinegar.