"A waiting person is a patient person." - Henri J.M. Nouwen

Argh! Have you ever felt impatient at a red light, or irritated at the end of a long line for your prescription at the pharmacy? You're not alone.

Patience can feel scarce when you don't have control over a situation. It can feel like chronic pain interrupted your life and brought a slew of frustrations at the worst moments. Finding a tiny bit of control can bring us patience later.

Control might look like self-care: a walk around the block, getting up early for 15 minutes of alone time, spending time each week encouraging others who have chronic pain or starting a gratitude journal. Don't let anyone (including yourself!) make you feel guilty for taking care of yourself.

Here are some conversations on MyChronicPainTeam about patience:

• "I know that most of us have days or even weeks when nothing gets done. Please don't get discouraged. It will pass even if it doesn't feel like it will. Patience is not one of my strong points and it's something I'm trying to learn. As hard as it is, you need to teach yourself patience as well."

• "I feel hopeful that soon I will be able to walk, swim and travel. Time will tell. Surgery is always a great lesson in patience and in being kind to oneself."

• "Dealing with this stuff is a day to day exercise in patience and persistence, and being really stubborn bullheaded also helps. It's ok to have off days, it happens with this stuff. It's ok to be kind to yourself, this disease is not your fault, it's no put down on you if you just can't find the energy or motive to move. It just is what it is."

Have you found ways to take back control and practice patience? What do you do to be more open to self-care? Share your insights in the comments below or directly on MyChronicPainTeam.com.