Enduring the Wait

My face when I realize I have to wait.

Apparently, there’s a good bit of waiting that goes along with trying to publish (even self-publish) a book. I had no idea it would be like this: trying to be patient while anticipating a dream coming true. 

Right now, there’s the waiting for the illustrations to be completed.

Then, there will be the waiting for the first print(s) to come off the press and back to my hot little hands.

Then it will be waiting to meet with local bookstore owners. 

I’m sure there are other waiting things I haven’t even considered yet. 

I hate waiting. I don’t like lines, being on hold, the 15 minutes before my work day ends, the last three days before a vacation, or the yawning expanse of time while a jury deliberates (work related, I promise). 

I’m a do-er, not a bystander. I always get into the thick of things, not because the thick of things is necessary the best place to be, but at least I’m not waiting for things to be done on their own. I’m influencing them. Its why I do what I do for work, its why I always have half a dozen projects going on at once (so if one stalls up for some reason, I can jump to another during the waiting period without any break in the action), its why I love volunteering with kids (they don’t like waiting either), and its why I’m fairly certain I have ADD. 

Some people are good at this. They're so patient and cheerful about things taking FOR.EV.ER. I want to be more like that and less like a squirrel on crack when I'm expecting something. 

How do you stand it? No, really, I need some advice here. Please help me!