Writing this column is quite a challenge for me. I’ve just finished a a one-day training for DBP-DEEP Scholars at Cebu Normal University. I’ve left my hotel (Cebu Midtown) after an early breakfast.

Now comes the news: Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 576 originally scheduled at 8:15PM to Manila will be delayed to 10:20PM due to late landing of the war craft. I thought wow, this is a perfect opportunity for me to share my thoughts on “delays.”

Being a motivational speaker in the Philippines, the youngest and they say the most dynamic and energetic, I’m used to travel and therefore used to delays. Several times when I get to give corporate talks on Internet Marketing, Sales, and General Motivation for Employees (and Business people), never have I controlled the time. But this isn’t about being delayed, being on time, nor being earlier. This is about a virtue we call patience.

After the announcement that we’re taking off the runway later than schedule, you can see disappointment in the faces of passengers. The blame game is on.

I’m tired and I wanted to rest. I can understand people. They have reasons to get disappointed. They have their schedules, too and I assume they wanted to touch down NAIA Terminal 3 by 9:15PM. It’s now 9:25PM and I’m still blogging from my Dell Laptop. I just have to thank that there’s an available Wi-fi here at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

But reasons shouldn’t go over understanding. What does it make of you showing disappointment in a circumstance that no one really likes? And who would want to have a delayed flight? Yeah, you’re right–no one.

In other words, there’s no use to get disappointed. It only takes away more energy from you and all the more you’re getting tired and exhausted. Since nobody wanted this to happen, I believe it’s useless to dwell on this. I thank God for my laptop. Now, I have something to do.

For some people without anything to do, time should be even longer. For those who are not used to delays, it’s uncomfortable. But this is a piece of reality and it’s happening now. The only option that we all have is to wait.

Patience is truly a virtue and a discipline. When practiced constantly, it’s very instrumental in achieving a certain level of peace of mind. It’s not just a concept of being able to wait but the idea of being able to be at peace while waiting.

I can only think that if we were able to depart here on time, something may have happened. Delays for me serve a purpose. I may not know what that purpose may be but I believe there is.

Oppps. The war craft just arrived. I have to prepare. This delay gave me an opportunity to share. I was able to fill in my dull and null and idle schedule.