mariakoropecky by Maria Koropecky, Storytelling Coach & the Author of Closer to Indigo
My patience was tested this morning when I tried to open a new bottle of facial cleanser with a pump top.
Is it just me? Does anyone else have problems with industrial strength packaging?
I thought I could just turn the spout a few times to lengthen the tube part but it just kept going in circles.
I understand that they need to lock it so that the contents don’t spill out during transport but do they really have to secure it so tight that the end-user can’t open it intuitively and easily when they’re ready to use it?
Bad design is a waste of time and gets to me sometimes. At least I had the wherewithal to attempt this before I got in the shower and wasted water as well. And at least I didn’t get so mad that I threw the bottle across the room.
After multiple failed attempts, I had to resort to looking up how to do this “simple” task online. (Seriously, when did opening a bottle become so complicated that it requires a tutorial video?)
The first video said to turn the spout counter-clockwise. I thought of that already, thanks. The second video said to turn the bottle upside down and squeeze it and it should pop. Didn’t work.
The second video also suggested removing the whole closure, rinsing and drying it, then holding the inside mechanism while turning the spout. That worked for her. I decided to just grip it with a cloth and that opened it up for me. Finally!
But by then, I was agitated, so I took a deep breath, closed my eyes… and that’s when today’s song came through—‘Patience’ by Guns N’ Roses.
I haven’t thought about or heard this song in years but it’s perfect for my “Songs, Stories & Synchronicities” series.
I like how the song starts with “One, two, one, two, three, four” to count things in. I also like this verse:
“Said, woman, take it slow
It’ll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said, sugar, make it slow
And we’ll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
(Patience)”
And I like how the song switches tempo part way through showing movement.
We want what we want when we want it and so we often resort to manipulating, controlling, forcing, rushing and blaming but the more elegant way requires a combination of trust, relaxation and patience.
And you know what helps with patience? Music!
Music is a powerful reminder that everything has its own timing. Just like in a song, patience is about trusting the rhythm of life—and the song takes as long as it takes to play through. You just have to relax and allow the bottle to open as intended.
How do you stay patient when things aren’t going your way?
