Patience a Virtue ?

Patience is a Virtue is a proverbial phrase referring to one of the seven heavenly virtues typically said to date back to "Psychomachia," an epic poem written in the fifth century.

The Psychomachia (Battle for Man's soul) by the Late Antique Latin poet Prudentius is probably the first and most influential "pure" medieval allegory, the first in a long tradition of works as diverse as the Romance of the Rose, Everyman, and Piers Plowman.
In slightly less than a thousand lines, the poem describes the conflict of vices and virtues as a battle in the style of Virgil's Aeneid. Christian faith is attacked by and defeats pagan idolatry to be cheered by a thousand Christian martyrs.

• Chastity is assaulted by Lust, but cuts down her enemy with a sword.
• Anger attacks Patience, is unable to defeat her and destroys herself instead.
• Greed is portrayed against Love, but is unable to obtain what it cannot coexist with.
• In a similar manner, various vices fight corresponding virtues and are always defeated. Biblical figures that exemplify these virtues also appear (e.g. Job as an example of patience).
  

Despite the fact that seven virtues defeat seven vices, these are not the canonical seven deadly sins, nor the three theological and four cardinal virtues.


Patience:

Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts and injustice peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. Accepting the grace to forgive;[3] to show mercy to sinners. Creating a sense of peaceful stability and community rather than suffering, hostility, and antagonism.

Once again something I thought would be “simple” turns out to be much more then I could have imagined. I have often thought of that phase “Patience is a Virtue” but have never understood where this originated from or what it meant in totality. Not sure I fully understand it now but I'm trying.

I have admitted in past posts that I am addicted to running, what I did not realize was that running was my “Drug of Choice”, a good drug to be sure but one never the less.Now that I am unable to run I experience physical and physiological issues I would not have imagined even through the worst of my cancer treatments. There is much research that points to the bodies natural ability to produce pain reducing endorphins during exercise. Without my “Running Fix” for almost two months I have found myself using more pain medication in the form of prescription medication and favorite beers. For the past few nights I have elected to bypass any pain medication even if it means I won't sleep. Somehow when I lie down in bed it's my hands and feet seem obligated to start “singing” which  makes sleep difficult to come by.

Physiologically; take away the “Junkies” drug and see what happens. In my case I think it goes even further since running transcends just the physical. Running has become my identity, a huge part of my social life and optimism.

How damn shallow is that I need to ask myself? If I could not run another step would that make me less of a human being ? …....... Hell no.............. But what replaces running to make myself feel well …. Right now, I simply do not know.

Cancer this time is not to blame, it's a stupid running injury for which I have no Patience.

Stay Happy …. Stay Patient in your life .... I'm Trying …... Mike

*definitions from Wikipedia