Motivation Information

Testy Horses and the Art of Speed Waiting


"What are you waiting for?" said Nelson, looking at me impatiently. "Well? Go on. Get saddled up!"

I was eighteen years old and had just entered my first rodeo. However, the horse I expected to ride in a roping competition had taken ill. The one I was about to ride instead had an "attitude". He was known to become testy when his riders least expected it.

The seconds crawled as I stared at this beautiful and very spirited animal. "New horse. No time to make friends with him." It was a memorable lesson that procrastination isn't always an option. During the years to follow, I would learn that life is sometimes as unpredictable as a testy horse. Often, there isn'tany backing out at the last minute.

Comedian Steven Wright once quipped, "I took a course in speed waiting. Now I can wait an hour in only ten minutes."

If only it were that simple when moving into unfamiliar terrain. Hesitation feels safer than stepping forward and taking risks for a dream. Yet waiting could be a greater risk. It only takes an instant to take a leap of faith, and only an instant for time to run out.

Here are some good questions to ponder:

Exactly what is it you are waiting for, and what are you doing while you wait? If it is something that requires patience, what makes the wait worthwhile? Ten minutes can seem like ten hours if your heart isn't in what you are doing.

I view Steven's "speed waiting" as more than a clever phrase. It is an art we can learn. We "speed wait" when we savor the small victories along the journey to our dreams. We "speed wait" when we pass our time with actions that uplift us and nurture the quality of life for others. When we are living from our soul, the hours melt into seamless moments of satisfaction.

At first, I had no idea what I would type into this little article. Then I read the following quotes at the top of the ezine issue I was working on:"Do not wait for a ray of ambition to guide you to your dreams. You will get there much sooner, and the light will be much brighter if you start today." - Michelle C. Ustaszeski

"Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down dayafter day to the job in hand with as much regularity asan accountant settles down each day to his figures.They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration." - Ernest Newman (1868 - 1959)

"How much of human life is lost in waiting." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)I thought about Steven's intriguing course of study and remembered climbing onto that testy horse.

I recalled how the hours seem to fly when I'm doing work that I love. Then I thought, "What are you waiting for?" And in ten minutes, the waiting was over!

So, what are you waiting for? Try the art of "speed waiting" today, and enjoy every moment of the wait!

© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve your top potential. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Titans’ Bulluck Finds Motivation in Adversity
New York Times, United States - 17 minutes ago
By GREG BISHOP NASHVILLE — The space allotted to linebacker Keith Bulluck in the Tennessee Titans’ locker room is furnished like a studio apartment. ...


Former U of I hoops stars could provide some motivation
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - 18 hours ago
By Mark Tupper CHAMPAIGN — If the Illini basketball team needs any extra motivation for Saturday’s game against Indiana, coach Bruce Weber hopes it’s the ...


CBC.ca

Defoe reveals Spurs motivation
The Press Association - 12 hours ago
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has credited Harry Redknapp and the club's fans as the key reasons for his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth. ...
Defoe fired by Tottenham ambition Independent
all 2,167 news articles


Motivation goal-setting seminar Jan. 10
Caldwell Progress, NJ - Jan 8, 2009
Frank Williams will moderate a one- day motivational goal-setting seminar on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Court, Parsippany. ...


SkySports

Lewis never lacks for motivation against Titans
My Tennessean.com, TN - Jan 7, 2009
And if Lewis needed any more motivation, he can think back to Week 5 when the Titans went to Baltimore and won 13-10 — in a game the Ravens limited ...
Baltimore using history as motivation Niagara Falls Review
all 1,491 news articles


New Sampdoria Recruit Raggi Has 'Great Motivation'
Goal.com, Switzerland - 23 hours ago
"I have great motivation," he was quoted as saying by Calciomercato. "Samp is the perfect place for my revival." The defender could not put his finger on ...


Washington Post

Heisman jinx continues with Bradford
SBR Forum, Costa Rica - 12 hours ago
"I try to use anything I can as motivation," Tebow said. "I think every player does. You try to use that, everything they said, just everything as ...
Tebow's been waiting for this moment since he was a little kid Orlando Sentinel
10 Reasons Oklahoma/Florida will win ESPN
BCS perfect place for Sooners to stop skid Florida Today
GatorCountry.com - USA Today
all 6,853 news articles


Motivational tools have changed for area coaches
Bloomington Pantagraph,  USA - Jan 7, 2009
By Randy Reinhardt The motivational powers of fear are immense. As a football player at Illinois Wesleyan, Dennie Bridges and his Titan teammates discovered ...


You Can't Afford to Break This Resolution
Motley Fool - Jan 8, 2009
But they don't expand their facilities to accommodate all those new members, because they know that motivation usually fades fast. Why? ...


Los Angeles Times

Ravens use an old motivational ploy: lack of respect
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 5, 2009
Respect is a motivational tactic as old as sport itself. Coaches and players portray themselves as unwanted, overlooked and underpraised. ...

Motivation - Google News

home | site map
© 2006