"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 hemophilia interrupts your life and brings 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 hemophilia 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 MyHemophiliaTeam:

• "This is the first surgery where I have healed amazingly, formed proper scabs and not had incisions open up after surgery - so I am really happy! Now comes the hard part, having the patience to allow me to really heal!"

• "My hysterectomy and pelvic reconstruction got postponed two months. This is a good thing, just frustrated that it changes all timing and I had myself psyched up for a certain time and I have to re-calibrate...BUT I am glad they want to keep me safe."

• "I'm recovering from abdominal surgery and working to regain my strength. Better days ahead---just one day at a time."

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 MyHemophiliaTeam.com.