Lessons from A 50yo. Home-4. Patience
Reflecting on the home we grew up in, patience is a life skill that stands out as something we were all quietly taught by our home. With six of us living in a conservatively sized home compared to today’s norm—patience was required in a way that’s seldom experienced nowadays, where every whim and desire can be accommodated almost instantaneously.
Patience was woven into our daily lives. One of the most immediate examples was sharing the bathroom and loo. You simply had to wait your turn. Patience was a daily necessity, and there was no point in getting angry or frustrated; it was just how things were—and we easily adapted.
Similarly, getting the prime spot on the couch to watch TV or using our home’s only telephone required patience. You had to wait until someone else was done with their turn or until the natural flow of the family’s routine allowed you to claim it.
But patience wasn't just about the here and now; it also manifested in longer-term aspirations. Getting the coveted ‘back bedroom’ wasn’t something that happened overnight. Being the most junior in rank, I had to wait until the ripe old age of eighteen before I got to experience it for myself. It was a rite of passage that only became attainable once the older siblings flew the coop.
Our 50yo. home’s inherent ‘enough-ness’ naturally encouraged us to develop patience as a skill. It taught us that not everything is immediately accessible and that sometimes, you have to wait patiently.
In a world where so much is designed to be instantaneous, there’s a quiet beauty in the patience our family home taught us. And if we embrace a little more of that ‘enough-ness’ over abundance when we design and build, we will encourage the learning and practising of patience as a matter of daily routine.
Pretty cool, right? It’s food for thought and just one way to effectively combat rising construction costs.
Next week, we’ll explore the final Lesson 5 from our 50-year-old home: Empathy.
PS. Patience is a virtue that often needs to be practised when undertaking a new custom build or major reno project. The timeframe involved in designing, permitting and building your project is typically longer than expected, and we need to be patient and give each stage ample time to be actioned properly. Knowing the likely timeframe for your project before you start puts you in absolute control and is a key component of my ‘Pre-Build Game Plan’.
Book a ‘Breakthrough Call’ and let’s start taking control of your project today.