Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Other Line Always Moves Faster
By Dr. Randy Wysong
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wysong@asifthinkingmatters.com Our fast-paced world can give us the feeling that everything is a race and that winning and losing defines every moment of the day. In the important matters of life, winning is a proper goal. The key word there is important. The problem is that most things in life, particularly the ones we stress about day-to-day, are not really important in the larger scheme of things.
We tend to take meaningless events as personally as if our value is diminished if others get ahead of us once in a while. For example, being in the slow line is frustrating. But that is the way things are; some must always be last. Who says we get to always be ahead? If we always get to be the first, then others always have to be last. Where is that written?
Have you noticed that the guy weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, speeding, honking, and flipping everyone off ends up beside you at the red light? Even if he were to get ahead, how much time would be shaved off? One minute, five at most? The same could be said for grocery lines where you desperately search for the shortest one, but then, to your horror, discover that the ?idiot? in front of you needs three price checks, has 56 coupons to redeem, and is paying with change that has to be counted out.
In the greater scheme of things will the few moments of time we are stressing about really mean anything? Are our days so packed with meaningful activity that a few minutes? delay will make a difference? Think about how many one minutes and five minutes we have during the course of a day that are a waste, when we are basically doing nothing. Is creating more of this time by being obnoxious in traffic or rude in lines worth the stress and the knowledge that we have been a jerk?
Chill. Relax a little. Make it a daily challenge to let others win and be first where it does not matter. Yield in traffic, open the door to let others pass first, be content with the longer line, wait your turn, and let others go ahead of you. Rush only to do a good deed or an act that will brighten another person?s day. Do not let the frenetic pace of modern life sweep you along. Get your bearings on what matters, see things in perspective, and let others beat you in meaningless races. Be patient and feel (and be) like a winner compared to all the other foolish people hurrying to wait, or rushing home to do nothing.
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Dr. Wysong is author of thirteen books on health, nutrition, self improvement, philosophy, and the origin of life. He is a pioneer in the natural health and nutrition movement, and is the first to put the creation-evolution debate on rational footings. His blog, books, updates, mind-stimulating content, and interactive forums can be found at: asifthinkingmatters.com. To contact Dr. Wysong email:
wysong@asifthinkingmatters.com ________________________________________