Everywhere I go, I see people hurrying from one place to another or rushing to get stuff done, ignoring the little things along the way. Not having patience often goes hand in hand with hurrying.
I must confess I used to rush and hurry to and from places. Over the last few years, I have become drawn to slowing down and not being in a hurry wherever I go. It was hard at first, but as I learned to take my time, I began to see little things or pay attention to people going by.
Also, by slowing down and paying attention, I see other people hurrying in a store, and they don’t stop and have a conversation other than a subtle “Hi,” and off they go. In a way, I can see that hurrying can be a little offensive to others. So, what’s the hurry?
Have you ever driven quickly from one traffic light to the next? Notice the driver in the other lane rushing by and then stopping at the next red traffic light? When you finally get to the red light, are you waiting long for the light to turn green, unlike the other driver? Was there a time difference between the two? How much effort did you or your car put in compared to the other driver? I found less effort by not rushing.
Some would argue that “every minute counts” and “make the most of it.” Well, I agree. It is possible to make every minute count while not being in a hurry. I’ve noticed things I wouldn’t have recognized before by not hurrying. Whether it is catching a sign that you didn’t see there back, and it is not always a physical road sign – it can be a beautiful bird perching nearby, the shape of the clouds, a spiritual sign, or a piece of art that you passed by too many times but never bother to take the time to appreciate it. It’s the little things that count, too!
It can also be rewarding not to be in a hurry. Last month, I traveled on an airline and connected through Phoenix. Because of the weather conditions at my destination, my connecting flight had a weight restriction and could only carry 42 passengers out of the 76 seats on the CRJ-900 aircraft. I was among the passengers denied boarding. The small airport I was flying to has a shorter runway than most regional airports, and when it is wet, certain regional aircraft types cannot land there with a full load, so they can only fly with less weight; fewer passengers, luggage, and cargo.
After the flight left without us, I quietly stood in the back of the gate area, off to the side near the counter, and waited, not in a hurry of wanting to be rebooked. I observed several unhappy passengers giving the gate agents a hard time, nearly demanding. Then, two men in business suits were smiling and joking with the gate agents, obviously not in a hurry.
The gate agent who was re-booking the stranded passengers saw me, called me over, and kindly told me that he was taking care of me and I could grab lunch, then come back, and he’d have my new boarding pass ready for the next flight. I told him it was no problem and to take his time. I even offered to fly to another city near the intended destination if they needed me to. He appreciated the offer but said he would take care of me. I treated the gate agent with kindness and respect.
I wasn’t hungry but wandered around briefly, then sat down and waited at the gate. The gate agent returned and gave me a new boarding pass with an assigned first-class seat, a paper check for denied boarding compensation, and a priority gate tag for my carry-on luggage. On the next flight, the two businessmen and I were sitting in first class while the two (re-booked) unhappy passengers were seated in the back in the economy.
You see, patience and not hurrying could help you get better results (or rewards) from a situation. I could go on and on, but the point of this essay is that I found life less stressful by slowing down, appreciating the people or things around us, and not being in a hurry.