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@ 61e30815:fe5f1bd1
2023-10-09 23:42:58I can see the quickest way through this.
I know this because I am smart and have intentionally developed my skills to guarantee a flawless outcome.
The ineptitude on display in front of me was boiling my blood quicker than it should. They had no idea how to solve the mess they’d created.
And I had to watch this shit sandwich play out in real time.
My frustration bubbled over to outright anger.
“Learn to fucking drive before you come here wasting my fucking time!”
I was in the supermarket car park, in a hurry to buy nappies for my 3 week old daughter. I was running on very little sleep. And the driver in front of me, blocking my way, was clearly overwhelmed with not being able to park their car properly.
I was angry. But not at the situation exactly. I was annoyed that the driver didn’t value time like I did. To be inefficient at something meant wasting time and delaying the desired outcome.
This is unacceptable.
I loathe being patient. Waiting is for people with nothing better to do.
I can see how efficiently the situation could play out. I know the outcome and the path or series of steps to get there. Do those steps perfectly and you get a perfect outcome.
I eventually got past the incompetence, parked, and stomped through the shops like a grumpy old man.
When I left the car park to drive home, I had a driver right up my rear bumper. I wasn’t slow but he obviously thought so. He eventually sped past me, well over the speed limit. What was the point, I wondered. At best, he might arrive somewhere two minutes earlier. I wonder what amazing feats of brilliance he’ll achieve with that additional time? Nothing, most likely. He’s just an impatient idiot, I think.
Annoyingly, I have another thought. “That idiot is me.”
Other people trigger a reaction in me by displaying a behaviour that I’m also guilty of. Hmm.
HOW I LEARNED PATIENCE
There’s only one way. And it was driven home to me, ironically, as my new house was being built.
Except it wasn’t.
It was delayed. Again and again.
But it didn’t start that way. The beginning of my house build journey was all sunshine, rainbows and puppy dogs.
Selecting block of land had me feeling so lucky because I somehow beat all the other schmucks before they could get it.
Once the land was mine, I could speak to builders. Immediately, I swept away with the possibilities.
“Here, take a fat booklet of our prestige house designs.”“Why yes, thank you.”
I could literally feel the universe colluding on my behalf as I stepped from reality into fantasy. In this world of dreams, everything is possible.
“Except for that design, sir, it won’t fit on your block.” “Nor that one I’m afraid. Or that one. Hmm, it seems all the designs on your short-list won’t work on your block.”Fuck!
“Fine. What about this smaller one.”
“Excellent choice, sir.”With a design chosen, I began making adjustments. I didn’t need a TV room so I turned it into a 5th bedroom. I also removed a wall to create a wrap around hallway — meaning you could run a full circle loop within the house. The kids love it.
Design locked in. Next up was choosing all the colour selections like tiles and carpet and doors and handles. The list feels endless. I was making so many colour and style decisions without actually seeing how it all fits together. I could only hope that once it was completed I didn’t have a home that looked like chewed up fruit loops.
At this stage emotions are high. I’ve designed a dream.
Then the universe stopped colluding with me and kicked me in the pants via regulations, approvals and red tape.
The nit-picking is exhausting. Apparently, my roof pitch will cast too much shadow on the day of the Winter Solstice. Non-compliance. The front of the dwelling is 20mm too close to the front boundary. Non-compliance.
- Encroachment on easement. Non-compliance.
- Natural light regulations. Non-compliance.
- The brick colour isn’t on the estate’s list of approved colours. Non-compliance.
Building approval denied. Try again.
At this point, I had uttered the words “fuck off” so many times it had become my daily mantra.
This back and forth bullshit took an entire year. According to my puppy dogs and rainbows stage, the house was to be finished 6 months ago.
Zero construction had occurred.
And then, within the space of a week, I had progress!
Building approval received and advised the house is on the construction list.
Fuck yes! Finally!
But this euphoria was short lived.
“Congratulations on being placed on the construction list. However, we’re sorry to advise you that due to covid, we are experiencing labour shortages and supply chain disruptions. This will add an additional 3–6 months onto the construction time.”To quote Eric Cartman:
“Fuck fuckity fuck fuck fuck!”Construction eventually started and the house was built in just over 8 months. It felt excruciatingly slow. I visited the site every week to take progress pictures. I honestly felt like I’d never move in — I would be perpetually building a home but never live in it.
I hated waiting. It made my skin crawl and caused my frustration to undulate like a wave pool.
To me, the cause of the frustration was being told at the beginning how efficient the building process is once the design is ready. I respected an efficient process. I was dealing with professionals.
Unfortunately, some things are out of the professional’s control. Like covid. And trade shortages.
Despite this, I eventually learned the lesson of patience. As I write this, in my completed home, I understand there is only one, true way you can learn and embrace patience.
You have to fucking wait.
Max.