I sat in the waiting room for 45 minutes today - and didn't mind too much.

After all, the doctor I was waiting for is one of the nation's leading pediatric urologists - and I value his opinion tremendously, because I love my daughter. There's no real alternative, so I was happy to wait.

Now, if this wait had occurred at my dentist, or for a hair-cut, I would have been furious - or just left. The commodity/alternative value of a product or service is directly proportional to my patience in waiting for it.

For instance, when my friend Jarrett and I visited Chicago's famous gourmet hot dog stop, Hot Doug's - I actually liked waiting in a line that started outside. It validated my decision to drive there - even more than the food did.

Some lines are worth the wait.