Rushing Through Life...I Confess

Today as I was on the commuter train heading home from the day job, I had a moment to reflect. Well, what really inspired the reflection was the moment the train pulled into the station, how the commuters lined up as if there was a race to the parking lot.

I wondered why did we rush? I understand having to get to the babysitter's. But sometimes, I think we rush...well, just to rush. The feeling to go fast, be in the top three, be at the front of the line have become habits.

On an average day, here's my journal of the rush through life.

I wake up at 5:45, but stay in the bed until 6:10. Then I jump out of the bed and hurriedly put on my workout clothes. I'm in a rush because I want to get at least 30 mins of exercise in. And I have to leave the house by 7. So I'm up running to the bathroom to put in my contacts. One day I'll get that darn Lasik surgery. Perform the necessary bathroom duties and then head down to work out.

At 6:45 I stop whatever I'm doing for my workout. I stand in front of the open freezer, pulling out my Jenny Craig food. Then it's time to dive into the laundry basket for clothes that were washed, but never made it upstairs. Now I'm running because I've got to fix my salad for my lunch, pack the fruits for my snacks. It's now about 6:50.

Time to race to the shower. By 7, I'm dressed. Hair is on the wild side, but I'll get that a bit later, like before I jump out of the car to head for the train. Now I grab my duffle bag, shove in the food and pocketbook, before running to the car. At this point, I'm so hot that the cold temperature doesn't penetrate. I throw everything in the backseat and race my daughter to the bus stop. Now the bus used to come for 7, then it was 7:05, now it's more like 7:10. But I sit at the bus stop with her and we chat. I like chatting with her in the morning for those few minutes. But as soon as the bus turns the corner and becomes visible, time to kick her to the curb and head to the train station. Adrenaline has to pump again.

Now the train station and commuters are a funny experience. The train is not the Metro, but the commuter train. So the riders are basically the same people I see on a daily basis. Many of them bond. And this bonding mentality also translates to territorial behavior. They stand in the same spot, sit in the same basic area, etc. I love to get there early and then go and stand in the spot that I know they treasure. You can see the looks of consternation because now they have to stand a few paces away from that treasured spot.

The train comes and those who have stood there the longest feel that they should get on the train first even if the train doors didn't happen to stop in front of them. So a bottleneck at the doorway occurs as we clamber up two different steps and then head in the same direction. And in 90% of time, there are enough seats for everyone. But a mad rush down the aisle seems to be the name of the game.

Then when we get to the final stop, the race is on again because it's a power-walk off the train, out the station, and into world. And you know it doesn't end there because our work lives, especially in these stressful times, tend to be tense and hurried.

Now that I've joined Jenny Craig, I pull myself away from all the hustle and bustle to enjoy my meal. It's my oasis in the busy day. Because guess what - the world will continue to rotate, people will still be swarming around me, so why not take the hour to eat and savor the food. I take the time to let my mind calm down. And when I'm at home, I allow my dinner to last as long as possible.

Maybe I'll be able to reverse the habit of rushing. Maybe. No promises.

Michelle

Goal: 80 pounds to be kicked to the curb
7 pounds lost