"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 epilepsy 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 epilepsy 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 MyEpilepsyTeam:

• "Well, thanks to this support system, I learned that with a little patience & our combined knowledge/experiences, things that look grim one second can look manageable the next.

I'm glad to say that I'm feeling much better & I'm slowly getting back to my old self. Let's keep this going. It worked for me & I hope it helps others who are all in this same fight."

• "One step at a time. Patience is key to overcoming epilepsy. Stay positive and strong!"

• "Don't ever forget that even when things go horribly wrong, with patience and perseverance you can still find your way back safely."

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 MyEpilepsyTeam.com.