Have you ever been waiting for something, and it seems like you are never going to get it? Have you ever waited for something for so long that you have lost hope that you will ever get what you were waiting for? What do you do while you wait for a job, an acceptance letter, a new car, a house, money, a spouse, or anything else?

Waiting is hard. It’s like telling a child they you are going to Disney World in a few months. Waiting until the day they leave seems like it is going to kill them. As for adults, waiting kills us, too. All of the unknowns and unanswered questions that we have accumulated throughout our lives can be incredibly difficult to live with. Sometimes during this waiting period, we feel so alone that it is difficult to even talk about with friends and family. You are in this “not yet” stage of uncertainty and suspension that feels so precarious that you don’t dare upset whatever delicate balance you’ve had to strike. Dealing with whatever it is you are waiting for all by yourself is hard and confusing.

If waiting is something you struggle with, you are not alone. Yes, you may feel like you are alone, but there are a lot of people out there who know what you are going through and can sympathize with you. The hard part is finding those people. If you are someone who feels alone in your time of waiting, I want to encourage you to talk to someone. We here at New Hope in Palatine would love to talk with you. We want to listen to you and help you through this waiting period.

I do want to leave you with one thing, while you are waiting and feeling all the anxieties that come with it: stay present. What I mean by that is relatively simple but very powerful — stay in the here and now. Don’t dwell in the “what-ifs.” Don’t overanalyze, stay present, take a deep breath, and appreciate all of the things that you have in that moment. Even if you don’t have everything you want, taking a moment and being present can help. Just breathe.

New Hope Counseling is ready to help you with almost any problem. Our experienced counselors and therapists are here to help with relationship problems, depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD. We are proud to offer couples counseling, child, adolescent, and young adult counseling, and help with other issues. Contact our Palatine practice today for more information.