TRAFFIC IS GOOD

TRAFFIC IS GOOD
Oct. 26, 1994

Go out anytime of the day and chances are you get stuck somewhere due to traffic. The kind of traffic that we now experience everyday was never anticipated by anyone. Now look at the magnitude of the problem – still getting worse daily.

Yet, positive thinkers and optimists like me would still see something beautiful out of this road mess. For one, it is a sign of progress. The reason for the heavy traffic is because many can now afford to buy a car. The easy car loan arrangement is also a beautiful factor.

When one is stalled in a traffic jam one can have time to relax for a while, file his nails, check his appointments, read a page in the book and any good things which could all be helpful. One can also study or appreciate the surroundings where he is caught by the “go slow”.

I’ll never have a very good chance of observing the life style of the squatters had I not been forced by traffic to stop right in front of several along the railways of South Superhighways. It was a revelation that gave me a handful of helpful insights.

For any delay in any appointment one can always use the traffic as a ready alibi and be quickly forgiven. When riding with someone it is always a great chance to start a conversation while waiting for the flow of traffic. This is a chance to discuss important matters, instead of cursing everyone because of the traffic.

I was once stranded at the very top of a fly over in Roxas Boulevard. I looked around and was amazed at how I have been neglecting to appreciate various scenarios, both beautiful and not so beautiful ones.

I still remember how I had a chance to save a crackling marriage because I had the time to give important counseling to a confused housewife while in the middle of a big traffic jam.

If we should only try to find the good things brought about by heavy traffic we shall realize that there are aplenty… enough to offset the negative factors. Traffic is good if you only look at it that way. Its main disadvantage is delay in appointment. Then wake up earlier, stat earlier and finish earlier than you used to do. After all, as the wise dictum says, “early to bed and early to rise makes the people healthy, happy and wise”.

People indeed are waking up early and are capable of doing many worthy things in spite of the seemingly endless traffic. It is also true that the early bird catches the worm. Smile at the traffic and you’ll soon reach your destination more relaxed and finally be able to do what you initially intended to do for the day.

In the final analysis it is not the traffic that is too burdensome, but rather it is one’s attitude about it. Change your attitude and opinion about the traffic and you’ll positively change for the better your viewpoint about it.