As a teenager, I never really took notice of traffic – I knew there were many cars on the road but I never REALLY thought about it. I have always had access to public transportation or I was able to walk to wherever I needed to go. When I left home at 21 – I moved into the city and never really needed access to a car. I walked to work and loved riding my bicycle for everything else. For those times I needed to go out of the city – I would take public transportation and occasionally rented a car. I don’t think driving today is the same as driving 20 years ago. Are we demanding faster and bigger cars or is today’s technology creating an environment that is striving for bigger, better and faster?
Living in the city for over 15 years – I have witnessed the ‘fast-paced’ environment of city life and enjoyed it. I didn’t really know anything else or any other way of life until I moved out of the city. In 2007 – my partner and I decided to move to a smaller town outside of Toronto. What a change! We really needed to adjust to the slower pace, even sleeping was an adjustment – we didn’t have the sounds of the city any-more, the late night recycling trucks, patrons leaving bars/clubs, police or fire-truck sirens, etc., they were gone and replaced with silence. It was wonderful.
Today, I can’t help notice how fast-paced and frantic our society has become. We are busy at work, we are bust at home – even our ‘downtime’ has to be scheduled and put into our daytimers or agendas. We are so busy filling our days with ‘things to do’ that we completely forget that it is okay to just relax and sometimes do nothing. I believe that many of us become physically sick due to the added pressures we put on ourselves. Think about it – we wake up in the morning, get ourselves ready for work (some of you get your children ready too), have breakfast (usually on the go), fight traffic, deal with added tasks and responsibilities at work, face traffic going home to pick up your children and get them to their after-school activities, make dinner, go to they gym, come home and prepare lunches for the next day, brush your teeth, prep for bed and finally go to bed. The day is gone.
We need to assess all the things we are doing and ask ourselves – is everything we are doing necessary, and are they supporting our well-being? Remove the activities that are causing us stress and negative energy and replace them with activities that can include your partner and even your children. Meditation and yoga are not only for adults – you can include your children. Plan your meals in advance so that you are not wasting time shopping for grocery items and preparing them at the last-minute. Maybe your children are involved in too many after-school activities and need some time just to be children. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, your spouse or your children – live in the moment and be in the moment.
During my commute in the morning – I am constantly reminded at how hectic our lives have become. I have witnessed people eating breakfast in their cars, doing their make-up, reading, working, talking on their phones and texting. I have also witnessed the rage from people when commuting. Are people’s rage caused by the daily commute or is it the frustrations of having such a busy life coming to fruition during their commute? People become crazy when they are driving to whatever they have to do or wherever they have to go, and if you get in their way – watch out. They tailgate you, wave their fists in fury, scream and shout, hurl insults, flash their lights and flip you the finger as they pass you by. The irony in all of that is, when the traffic builds and slows down a few miles down the road, the same person screaming and shaking their fists at you have not gotten any further. Sometimes, slowing down and putting your foot on the brake will allow you to catch up to everyone else without any stress – if catching up to everyone else is what you want to do.
COALITION OF POSITIVE ENERGY 