Worth waiting for

/*Waiting:*/ we all hate it. We live in a “need it now” society, where, most of the time, we can get what we want almost immediately. From an answer via text message, to food via a drive-thru, to entertainment via the internet. There’s hardly anything we have to wait for nowadays, but here are a few things that are worth the wait. This list was compiled by the folks at Rodale Publishing and it’s a good one:

The first *waiting list to get on – the list for a failed guide dog.
*Training a dog is really hard, on you and your carpet. To avoid the headache, you can adopt a dog that’s already trained to be a guide dog.
Before a dog can lead the blind, they must complete 5 months of intensive training and testing that includes things like safely navigating busy streets. Dogs that are unable to pass those grueling standards are highly sought after by search and rescue agencies, therapist, and families. They may not be good guide dogs, but they make excellent pets. The wait is about one to three months, but can be up to four years! It’s worth it. Go to www.GuideDogs.com or www.SeeingEye.org.

The next waiting list to get on: *Napa Valley’s The French Laundry
Restaurant.* This has been named America’s best restaurant for so long and by so many critics, it’s ridiculous. It’s helmed by chef Thomas Keller and every day he creates two nine-course menus and no single ingredient is repeated throughout the meal. The restaurant only has 15 tables and has earned Michelin’s highest rating of 3 stars. Wanna eat there? The waiting list is two months. Go to www.FrenchLaundry.com.

Something else worth waiting for:

As a lot of folks hit their 40's and beyond, many dream of switching careers. Sometimes this is just a case of the grass always being greener on the other side, but sometimes it's more. It can be scary to make a career change and it can also take a lot of work.

Erin White reports in a 11/27/07 Wall St. Journal article, "Profession Changes Take Time but May Be Worth The Wait," that a major career shift can be a lot of work and may require going back to school and a lot of networking. A career changer will need stamina and persistence to successfully make this change.

She also reports that even small first steps towards a career change can make people happier. For example, switching departments and/or roles at one's current company or having a long term plan for that career change, can make people happier and more satisfied with their lives.