I had an epiphany while I was stuck in traffic
lessons in becoming mindful in mundane and frustrating situations
I am stuck in traffic. It’s stagnant and static and so slow. It’s barely moving. Creeping one car at a time into a merge lane. I’m hardly moving but my thoughts move into frustration.
I am annoyed. Then anxious. I’m going to be late. Late. All because these tar-eaters don’t know how to merge.
I wind down my window. Ready to yell. Ready to hollar.
Then I realize: I am the traffic.
It’s a simple truth. A tiny epiphany. But one that makes me think about my behavior.
I wasn’t always like this. Somewhere, somehow through the years of my life. I have become that guy on the road. I have let my unsettled emotions escape into anger.
Why am I being impatient?
Why am I externalizing my blame?
Let’s see. Did I leave myself enough time in the morning to beat the traffic?
No. Why? Because I went to bed late. Got up late. Because I was on a YouTube wormhole about WWII. Because I dreamt about death.
Why? Because I was not satisfied with my day. My mind needed to be occupied.
