I travel; sometimes a lot. I’ve gotten to and from airports in my own car, limos, taxi cabs, hotel shuttle buses, shared ride buses – you name it, I’ve done it. Recently in Chicago, I took the Red line to the Orange line which then got me to Midway airport. It’s not the first time I’ve taken a subway or elevated train and it won’t be the last. Every time I catch a train or a city bus I’m reminded how much I like the experience.
Humanize your day
I’m not saying you need to utilize public transit – Lord knows I seldom do. This post is more about not rushing from place to place, but instead enjoying the journey. For instance, yesterday while transferring from the Red line to the Orange line at the Roosevelt station, I got a bit confused. A fellow traveler (admittedly one more familiar with Chicago Transit) saw me looking up at the signs and asked where I was going. That small act of kindness not only got me back on my way but changed my attitude for the entire day.
Fastest isn’t always best
Sure, a cab may have gotten me to the airport quicker (debatable in Chicago traffic); but then I would have missed the opportunity to be the recipient of a small act of human kindness. For the rest of the day, I smiled more, held more doors open for others and generally went out of my way to be kind to those I encountered. It was all because I sought out a journey that involved more potential human interaction, not less.
So, next time you have to go somewhere (even just the store to pick a few things up), think about the route and mode of transportation you will utilize. Try mixing it up a bit. Your life will be richer for the experience. I promise.
I used to ride the CTA every day. Though I wouldn’t want to do it all the time there were days were I really enjoyed riding the train.
I love the views from the train. When you drive on freeways the view is pretty sterile. Trains go through neighborhoods. Plus there is the people watching. Love it most times I get the chance to do it.
This is why I love flying – the waiting around is annoying, sure… but the journey through the airport is so fascinating. When I visited NYC and took the subway, I’ll probably remember that experience more than all the tourist destinations I saw. It was really cool. Thanks for sharing!
Annie, I love all the travel I do. It’s never dull. Sometimes it does just plain suck but for every experience like that is one like this post.
Jim,
I guess this applicable (train example) in every other place but New York. For some reason the nature of the people taking the train there is completely different. A year ago I had to take a train to New Jersey and although I had worked in New York years ago the train schedule did not make sense. I quickly was reminded how disconnected the people of New York decide to be. Even the NYPD where acting like I must be a moron because I did not get what they where saying.
On the other side in other places the nature of people is to help. In New York people have trained themselves to resist there human nature. I still don’t understand how it happens