While on the way to see some Clients Wednesday morning I was again amazed at how many people are caught in the trap of having to rush everywhere they go. It brought to mind a bumper sticker I saw somewhere which said: "If people hate work so much, why are they all rushing to get there?"
If you read Monday's blog about sticking to the speed limit and the effect it had on my arrival time versus the arrival time of those who were "rushing" around me you would realise that it doesn't really matter how much you rush, you're still probably going to get there at the same time as everyone else. I made up my own law on being in a hurry in traffic. "When you're in a hurry, the lane you choose will instantly become the slowest moving lane, even if it was the fastest moving before you switched!"
Ok, ok, to be fair...You may get there 5 minutes ahead of others, but would probably have stressed another 2 years off your life compared to someone who had taken it easy. Also, my motto is that I would rather be 5 minutes late than never arrive at all because I may have suffered a stroke or been involved in an accident while rushing to get there! (Actually, my motto is that if you plan your journey properly and leave on time you may actually get there earlier and don't have to rush to get there in the first place!)
Now, again, let's be fair...I ride a bike, so I always get there earlier than anybody else traveling in a car, but that also comes with it's own hassles, which I have chosen to view as an acceptable risk. A guy nearly got taken out in front of me this morning, so I know what I mean when I talk of the risks involved in riding a bike instead of being stuck in a "full-fairing quad", believe me!
However, I believe that it has to do with a state of mind, because people end up getting in a rush due to becoming upset with their perceived lack of progress towards their destination. But think on the following...You decide whether someone or something upsets you, or not. When you get in the car in the morning and you're getting ready to go to work, you know what to expect in terms of traffic, unless it's the first day that you are travelling a specific road, of course, but let's generalise for the sale of dicsussion. So, if you know what to expect from your travels, why do you get upset when it goes according to your expectation?
It really is as easy as deciding not to get upset and to make the journey an enjoyable experience. Maybe change your routine once every now and then and you may find that it changes your life forever. Stop for a cup of coffee along the way just to take a break from the rush. Use the opportunity to stop and watch as others expend their energy in the rush.
You may just see what I see while I'm standing by the side of the road watching you rush by.
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