2013-07-16 18.54.26In Dr.  Tae Yun Kim‘s garden, there are many different plants, among them all sorts of fruit trees.

sweet, juicy figs

sweet, juicy figs

Dr. Tae Yun Kim uses growing fruit as a symbol for patience in reaching a goal.

“Unfortunately, we are bombarded by the media with images and slogans of instant gratification. ‘You want this…just call so and so now…’ Or, ‘You want to look like this, be like this…just buy such and such now.’  However, what you get easily, you can usually lose easily.  Even though as a rule we don’t take advertising seriously, we are still impacted by these images to some extent.  We are easily disappointed with delay when we pursue our goals, often using it as an excuse to give up.

2013-08-01 19.36.27Patience in today’s world is not something that comes easily and naturally, and is something we generally need to acquire.  That is partly because modern technology has given us a measure of instant gratification.  Today when we want food, for instance, we can have it instantly at the supermarket, at a fast food drive in, or at a restaurant.  But there was a time when we had to patiently watch over our crops as they grew, milk the cows, pump the water, make the preserves, bake the bread, and so on.  There was no room for impatience in that life.

2013-08-01 19.38.43Not everything will be simply handed to you in a spoon fed manner.  There will almost always be a process involved in realizing your goals, a series of many steps that seemingly start and stop.”  (The First Element, page134)

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