In the hustle and bustle of our modern, fast-paced, “must-have-it-now” society, it’s easy to forget that patience was once considered a virtue. Today, we live in a world where instant gratification is king—streaming services deliver entire TV seasons in a day, and we can have a pizza at our door faster than you can say “Pharaoh’s favorite.” But what if we took a moment to learn from the ancient Egyptians, who might just be the original masters of forbearance?
Picture this: it’s 2500 BCE, and you’re an ancient Egyptian laborer. You’re spending decades—yes, decades—hauling massive limestone blocks under the scorching sun to build a pyramid that won’t be finished in your lifetime. There are no quick fixes, no “express lane” to immortality. Instead, there’s an unshakable belief that your hard work will ensure that the Pharaoh’s soul has a smooth ride to the afterlife. Talk about dedication! These guys were the poster children for long-term goals.
But let’s get real—if ancient Egyptians lived in today’s world, they might struggle with the idea of waiting a mere two days for Amazon Prime delivery. Can you imagine a Pharaoh yelling at his scribe, “What do you mean the granite won’t be here until next week? I want my sarcophagus now!”
In contrast, the ancient Egyptians were all about playing the long game. Their lives were centered around the concept of Ma’at—balance, order, and justice—values that required patience, endurance, and yes, forbearance. They didn’t just wait for things; they believed in putting in the work, even if they wouldn’t see the results. Building a monument that would last millennia? No problem. Waiting in line at the DMV? That might be a different story.
Compare that to today’s consumer society, where patience is in short supply. We get annoyed if our coffee takes more than two minutes to brew or if our Wi-Fi lags by a few seconds. Imagine telling an ancient Egyptian that you’re upset because your smartphone took an extra ten seconds to load a meme. They’d probably offer you a date (the fruit, not the social engagement) and tell you to chill out.
The truth is, while we’ve made incredible advances in technology, we’ve perhaps lost some of the endurance and patience that our ancient counterparts embodied. The Egyptians built wonders that have stood the test of time, all while practicing a level of forbearance that would make today’s society collectively cringe.
So, next time you find yourself getting frustrated by a slow internet connection or a delayed delivery, think of the ancient Egyptians. They spent their lives preparing for an afterlife they couldn’t see, patiently working for a future they’d never experience. Maybe we could all use a little of that ancient forbearance in our modern lives—after all, Rome (and certainly not the pyramids) wasn’t built in a day. And who knows? Maybe that patience will help us build something that lasts, even if it’s just a little more peace of mind.