December 2005/January 2006

Volume 46, Number 3

Stuck in Traffic

by Ron Arner

What's the best way to begin a New Year? Is it to make resolutions, start an exercise routine, or make a list of goals for 2006? I think it's a combination of these things, as long as your heart is in the right place. Believe it or not, one helpful way to find that "right place" is to drive in rush hour traffic.

My new job requires a much longer commute than my last one did. It didn't take me long to find the thought of all this "wasted time" very stressful. I tried several different routes, convinced that one would yield that golden 10-minute faster driving time, but was unsuccessful in my quest. And then there are all of those maniac drivers to worry about. Public transportation would not be practical at this time (too many transfers), so the only other option I am faced with is moving AGAIN, which I don't want to do.

Audiobooks have become a way of life for me (as they have for many), and since Yoga is my favorite hobby, I usually listen to tapes that talk about living a lifestyle very different than the hustle and bustle world of rush hour traffic. Fortunately, I've recently found several such tapes that deal more with the journey to a simpler lifestyle than what to do once you're there. By listening to these tapes, I've come to realize that worrying about my commute time is not only counterproductive, but is also detrimental to my health. This is common sense of course, but sometimes it's nice to hear it presented in a new light, a new variation on an old theme. It never ceases to amaze me how improving one aspect of my life also improves others. Overcoming my dislike of my commute has made my job performance better, my energy level at home much higher, and my free time more enjoyable, rather than just an opportunity for lazy recuperation in front of a TV.

One particularly poignant recording I've recently listened to is The Energy of Money: A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment, by Maria Nemeth, Phd. Nemeth attacks the yuppie lifestyle head on in her book, explaining in a very clear and straightforward manner why a society of overachievers is not a good thing. The interesting thing is that Nemeth doesn't discourage money management, frugality, or a successful career, but simply points out ways to avoid letting such things overtake your life. Another good book I can recommend (I've actually both read and listened to this one) is Positive Energy : 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love, by Judith Orloff, MD. Orloff takes more of a new age/intuitive approach to energy management, and introduces the idea of "energy vampires" to describe people who drain your energy. (How many Marketing Directors and unsympathetic bosses fit into this category?) One last recording I'll mention is Pema Chodron's Getting Unstuck: Breaking Your Habitual Patterns & Encountering Naked Reality. You don't really need to listen to the material in this recording to get something out of it; the author's calm and soothing voice has benefits all its own and can make the atmosphere in your car as pleasant as if your favorite music is playing in the background.

My new found perspective on driving in rush hour traffic has made my commute tolerable for now, although I still hope that once the T-Rex Light Rail line is completed I'll be able to use it several times a week. I must admit that I still honk when someone cuts me off in traffic as well, but it doesn't carry the same significance as it did before. I hope you all have a stress free and productive 2006.