Hurry Hurry Hurry

The Rush

We all know the feeling: standing in the checkout line, waiting for traffic, or pushing the speedometer just a wee bit more. We want to get to where we're going and we'll fret until we arrive.

What We're Really Saying

When I'm saying "I want to be somewhere else", I'm implying that "I don't want to be here". It is rarely—if ever—expressed as a desire not to be here, but rushing to get somewhere else is rushing to leave where I am. So the best that can be said about here is that it is currently my second favorite place. The likely sentiment is something more like: this place is in my way, or these people are slowing me down, or this article is too long—or any other i-am-the-center-of-the-universe internal dialog that we all are prone to entertain.

The eventual effect of constantly adopting this rushing mindset is that we never want to be anywhere. A permanent angst settles on us which continually reminds us that we're late—even when we have nowhere pressing to be. We live as though we're always late.

Sometimes Rushing Is Correct

If you're late for something really important, or counting every second to the ER, or some other thing that I'm having trouble thinking of at the moment, then rushing makes sense. The rest of the time, rushing is a bad, bad habit with no justification.

Instead Do This...

Realize that you're not actually late—or that if you are, it doesn't matter. Drive slowly. Read every word in the article. Let other people—who may actually have reasons to be in a hurry—move at their own pace. Look around. Embrace the journey. Use cruise control. Want to be where you are.

If you have a good reason to be prompt, leave early.

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