Loving the journey

If you haven't figured it out, I'm in love with New York - Brooklyn in particular.  It offers everything I want in a city.  Most recently, it offered me a kick-ass job.  Working for the Park Slope Reader and NY Spirit, I get to learn more about the wonderful city and about other fantastic people I share it with.

My outlook toward my workday has changed dramatically.  For years I suffered the subway, negotiating  arms and backpacks, contorting myself so people could get through the narrow aisles to the doorway.  Being aware of the sweat, bad breath and gases of fellow riders as we crammed against each other was a nightmare for the senses.  And heaven help me if the train was delayed; my ride would be consumed with the frustration of being late.  By the time I arrived at work my feet would always hurt, my jaw was clenched and I desperately needed coffee.  And mind you, I would read or listen to my ipod on my journeys, just to make them more pleasant. 

I don't know why these commutes always caused such trauma.  Perhaps it was the feeling of always being on the go, always needing to be somewhere.  There was a morning meeting, something to pick up before the store closed, the dog who had held his bladder for ten hours.  But clearly, this was no way to start or end the day.  And to be perfectly honest, I've come to realize that this is all in my head.  Not to say that I'm crazy, these are common experiences in NYC.  Everyone has felt these frustrations.  I just decided that I am no longer letting them effect me.

So now I take my time getting to work.  I have several options - two subway lines and a bus.  They all have their benefits.  If I want to do more walking, I take the subway.  If I want to relax and watch the world go by, I take the bus.  I don't worry about being late anymore.  No one is going to die if I'm ten minutes late.  If I enjoy the moments getting to work,  I've started my day on the right foot.

An added bonus to this relaxed attitude is that I'm noting more and more details about my surroundings.  I found this bike graffiti on the light at a cross-walk.  I reminds me to have a better relationship with transportation - and perhaps to add a bike to the mix.  Urban Love Daily liked it enough to post on their site as well.  So this new, relaxed approach is paying off already.