"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 COPD 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 COPD or starting a gratitude journal. Don't let anyone (including yourself!) make you feel guilty for taking care of yourself.

Here are some conversations about patience on MyCOPDTeam:

• "I’m still learning. What I’ve started to do is learn how to pace myself. Do what I can but try to keep it within limits. My mind believes I can do it but my body doesn’t always cooperate. I don’t get down on myself if I don’t accomplish all that I want. I’m reaching a point where I am not obsessing over this disease. I remind myself that I could have something worse. Keep moving forward."

• "The spring is never my friend and it has not gotten any better. But what I have learned is patience and the art of calming myself down."

• "I know this disease takes a lot of patience. I try to stick to a routine, sometimes I really have to push, but I can't do all that I wish I could. So I have accepted my condition, but I will keep pushing."

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 myCOPDteam.com.