Test of Today - Waiting Rooms
November 13th , 2025
Salam.
I never understood waiting rooms. Especially at clinics.
Depending on your reason for visiting, waiting rooms are probably one of the most biologically hazardous places you could expose yourself to. I might be an extremist when it comes to pessimism and my little faith in humanity and the concept of basic hygiene.
When COVID brought along tutorials on how to properly wash your hands, I was sure that the content HAD to be tailored to children. Boy, was I sorely and regrettably disappointed in myself for expecting better of adults.
I'm no stranger to a waiting room. Being an occasional visitor at the local emergency room and a regular at the clinic, I've gotten used to waiting. The anxiety I feel while waiting though, that never dissipates. Worrying that I will get sicker than I came into the building just by sitting and breathing the same air (even with a mask).
I think what irks me most about waiting rooms is that your appointment could be at 10:00 AM but the doctor won't be able to see you until 11:00 AM because of the backlog and the walk in patients. But if you're late or miss your check in time, you're considered a no-show and might even be charged a cancellation fee.
I don’t know what the clear alternative is to waiting rooms, but I feel like it would make more sense to have separated rooms that get sanitized for waiting in case there is someone with a more infectious or contagious ailment. But what do I know?
More than RFK Jr. that’s for damn sure. Then again, the head of the department of education in the US became the CEO of WWE too so that’s the where the bar is for expertise required for government positions these days.
A thought while I was waiting for my appointment today was – how often do we spend our life waiting?
Not just waiting in line or for appointments, but for the “right moment” or the perfect opportunity. Despite neither being guaranteed, there are billions of people now and in history that are just “waiting for their chance”, whatever that may be.
My husband and I made the decision to get married young, relative to today’s terms that is. With a mother who was married just shy of 18 and a grandmother who was married at 15, getting married at 23 seemed pretty reasonable. We also made the decision that we wanted to do life together, through the good and the bad, the guaranteed good times and the dreaded and inevitable bad times. We asked ourselves – why wait? Granted, we had known each other for several years already and dated romantically before arriving at this mutual decision. I would not advise rushing into marriage.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, of course. Tattoos, for example.
When people come to find out that I have a tattoo, they are often surprised. They don’t know that I was incessantly asking my mother every chance I could to get this tattoo from the moment I turned 15. I even went as far as calling tattoo parlours in Vancouver that would accept me with my mother’s consent, many who were even reluctant to entertain my inquiry, for the right reasons.
Ultimately, my mother was right to make me wait, even though I got the same tattoo I wanted in the same place four years later.
So, when people ask me, if they should get a tattoo. My response is always the same – if you still want the same tattoo in a year, then they should do it. Otherwise, it was just a fleeting and impulsive urge that they would likely come to regret.
The only regret I have with my tattoo, is not getting it touched up within the first six months. Take that with a grain of salt though, its yet to be a decade that I’ve had them on my body. So, regret might set in later.
Waiting, like all things in life, should be a moderated practice. Don’t rush into things but also, don’t let your dreams pass by before you get a chance to make them reality.
Instead of waiting – sometimes it’s better to just do and think later. Sometimes.
I’m testing that theory out now. I launched my first business today – if you’re into flowers, food, and making friends, then maybe this is perfect for you too.
Ya Galbi Curations – yagalbi.org
I’m sure this will be the first test of this business but I’m anxiously excited to see what awaits, whatever that may be.
Salam.
Ya Galbi Curations Logo
Ya Galbi Curations, concept and creation by me.