How poor is the person who thinks to themselves, “I can’t wait for this day to end.” It could be that whatever ails him, is the result of events outside of his control. But even so, to treat one’s limited time with such disdain is a poverty much worse than any bankruptcy or debt. Even in suffering there is value. Sometimes the most. In fact, life is predominantly suffering. The only thing guaranteed aside from death. Buddhists figured that one out thousands of years ago.
The majority of suffering doesn’t rise to the threshold of tears, unbearable pain or long stretches of depression. Most can be described as minor inconveniences, annoyances and discomforts. Shifting your weight on the chair because you’ve sat on the same spot for too long. Grabbing a snack in the middle of the night because you’ve awakened with a gnawing pain in your stomach. Sitting through a conversation about how a friend selected their living room couch and how it aligns with their identity. This is what life is predominantly made of. And what you choose to do in those moments, a choice fully within your control, determines your quality of life.
If you think, “I can’t wait for this to end,” you are committing a sort of micro-suicide. You are relegating yourself to a life you’re constantly trying to escape from. The combination of boredom, tedium and discomfort will far outweigh the pleasantries in your life. And the pleasantries only feel pleasant when compared to and preceded by the difficult moments. So instead of dread, learn to enjoy the pain and suffering. Learn to enjoy the hard work, knowing it might lead to moments of triumph. It might not. Success is never guaranteed. But counting down the seconds is a surefire path to misery and a life poorly lived.