I read somewhere that we spend a full thirdof our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let’s take a look at three types of “waits”.
我在某个地方读到，我们花了生命里整整三分之一的时间在等待。但是，我们在哪里等待，这对我们这样一个没有耐心的社会意味着什么？为了理解这个问题，让我们看一下三种类型的“等待”。

The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink as anexample. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it’s full. During these waits, the brains lips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
最纯粹的等待形式是守候式等待，无疑是最令人讨厌的。以填满厨房水槽为例，在这个过程中，你除了盯着水槽直到水槽装满水外，什么都做不了。在这些等待过程中，思绪会漂移，四处游荡，直到水从柜台边缘流到你的袜子上。这种等待让等候者既无助又不知所措。

A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes.” I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
守候式等待的表亲是被迫式等待。这需要一点纪律。正确准备袋装面条汤需要被迫式等待。方向非常明确。“烧开三杯水，加入汤料，炖三分钟，关火，静置五分钟。”我怀疑是否有人能严格遵守程序。毕竟，被迫式等待需要耐心。

Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
也许最强大的等待类型是幸运的休息等待。这种等待不同寻常，因为大多数人是自愿的。与也是自愿的被迫式等待不同，幸运的休息等待并不一定意味着它会发生。

Turning one’s life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On thesurface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn’t come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts any body.
把一个人的生活变成一场等待的游戏需要信念和希望，这完全是为了我们当中的乐观主义者。表面上看，这就像按照汤料的说明做一样荒谬，但幸运的休息等待很好地服务于那些愿意做的人。只要人们不依赖它，希望一些好事发生永远不会伤害任何人。

We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you’re standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you’ll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don’t be desperate. You’re probably just as busy as the next guy.
我们确实花了很多时间等待。下次当你站在水槽边等着它装满面条汤的时候，你必须吃到一大袋现金从天上掉下来，不要绝望。你可能和下一个人一样忙。