Magazines...

When you visit a doctor's or dentist's office, they always have these piles of magazines for you to read while waiting. Usually it caters to a particular interest, more often than not, categorized based on gender. For women, you have your gossip and fasion mags like Cosmo, Elle or Women's Weeky. For men, there are a variety of motor magazines to choose from and maybe a few on fishing.

All in all, it's a nice selection of reading material. The only problem is that the latest issue of any magazine that you can find there is probably at least a year old.

The odd thing is, we don't generally mind that they are outdated. I don't think it's just because it's the only thing available to read (although it's probably one reason). Because there are other ways to get around that problem, i.e. bringing a book, going down to the Indian-run newstand next door to pick up the newspapers/a tabloid/new issue of similar publication found upstairs.

My point is that we read them because we are genuinely interested in those magazines. We don't really get bored with them despite their lack of practical usefulness. We do, however, get bored from waiting for our turn.

So of course the ultimately objective of being in the waiting room in the first place is to see your doctor/dentist. The magazines may be interesting, but the sooner you get probed and touched by the white jacket-wearing healthcare professional, the sooner you can get on with your life.

After you're done and leave, you may remember that you liked a particular publication you came across back there and decide to subscribe to it. Maybe keep reading it for a couple of years, maybe more.

Now think of those magazines as the interests/hobbies you pick up while waiting for your life partner to show up.

I read a lot of magazines, but I'm still waiting for my turn.