Patience is not one of my best virtues. Perseverance is. I am at heart a country girl. The other evening I watched three deer in the backfield at my grandfather’s house. During my visits over the past several months I have watched these same three deer.
This evening at dusk I walked outside to watch them more clearly. Deer are very patient. They will run, stop, turn to observe the change in their environment and stand stock-still until they are assured the threat is gone.
The silence, the stillness and the observation are far removed from the hectic pace of my life in Louisville. It inspired me to stop and think. Just think.
I wonder sometimes if thinking is given enough credit. Today it is easy to write and publish. I mean, here I am publishing with just a few strokes of the keyboard. Are problems better solved by reacting or by thinking and then reacting?
Are answers found by jumping into the deep web and swimming until you find the right pool? I actually think it is easier to find answers when I follow some basic research practices.
Write down the key terms, think about synonyms or alternative phrasing, when using Boolean language structure the search and reedit it before hitting enter. Check your spelling, I mean isn’t Google the best spellcheck ever? Reflect upon whether or not the query is too broad or narrow. Are you in the right realm or do you need to try the search another way. Are you finding the right stuff? 10 minutes should be enough to let you know if you are in the right realm. Too much, too little? Relevant? Then go forth and find the answer or rethink and reedit until you can find the answer.
Sometimes, the patience to observe and reflect saves time and effort and provides quality results.
