While everyone hates traffic, I love it most of the times of course only if inside a car/bus. The precision to keep the car just behind the person in front begs lot of concentration and perseverance. As a byproduct, you can’t be driving fast and even if you hit someone at that pace you are not hurting. I can even call and complete the talking at a signal without breaking any rules.
The day I am working from home, I don’t have the luxury of unwinding in the traffic and instead spend time staring at laptop and end up being not very productive. The concentration on road diverges the mind from the next 8-10 hours at work and is a stress buster. By the time you are in office, you know there can’t be a thing slower than traffic and you are at peace with yourself. This daily dose of enlightenment is what the doctor ordered.
The other benefits include (not limited to) watching the life from close quarters, getting to know flora/fauna of the city etc. I am amazed to see few birds, which I have not seen at any place all my life. You have ample time at your disposal to observe a happening to its logical conclusion. Isn’t it so peaceful to know the outcome of a fight between two motorists and then move on, than wondering what happened at the scene through the day?
And yes, if you have forgotten to “smell the roses” and be happy of the small things in life, the situation is perfect. I for one like to read the punch lines behind an auto-rickshaw and all of them have at least one. The common theme looks to be LOVE and invariably it’s about the faithful boy and discarding girl. They also have cautions to be taken when in love and suggestions on what are good for a couple.
The list of things that can be accomplished while driving are endless, let me name a few. There are hawkers selling everything from pin/ear bud to apartments. You can keep track of birthdays of local politicians through hoardings. The sales/promotions are in your eye. Count the number of Gulmohar trees to work and re-count the next day and verify. Count the number of signals to work and the average time at signal. Listen to the radio and sing along without being commented on singing skills.
If you are still not convinced, try to take a ride to work on Sunday and see the difference. You will miss the hustle bustle and the sense of achievement of reaching the office on time. The roads seem deserted and lifeless to add to your misery. And when you reach office, you don’t have a goal against which you can set your pace.
Though not on par with Buddha who had to forgo everything before achieving Nirvana, my enlightenment is not a mean feast. Add it to that all worldly pleasures are still yours. Though most of us rue about the traffic, inside we do look forward every day for the traffic and the bliss to go into a different world. To put it in a nutshell, “Monday Morning Blues” is applicable to office not to traffic if you have attained that Nirvana.
