"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 food allergies interrupt your life and bring 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 food allergies or starting a gratitude journal. Don't let anyone (including yourself!) make you feel guilty for taking care of yourself.

Here are recent conversations from MyFoodAllergyTeam:

• "It has been up and down for me lately. I have broken my toe, so just when I am recovered and have time to devote to my martial arts, I have to be patient and wait again."
• "I keep telling myself to relax and take some meds and they will kick in and I will feel better, but it is hard to be patient. I keep reminding myself that tomorrow will be better!"
• "Have been careless with my eating and it adds up to feeling lousy. Today is a new day and another opportunity to make better choices."

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 MyFoodAllergyTeam.com.