“Hello, I'd like an egg McMuffin
please.”
“Oh alright. It's going to be about a 2-3 minute wait. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, that's totally fine. Thank you!”
The above surmises the conversation I had with the clerk at the drive through window during a late night craving at my local McDonald's. As my husband and I waited in the line of cars for our order, I pondered what the above interaction said about today's demand for instant results. Surely, in a drive through setting, there is some understanding that food preparation takes time, right? At least, we didn't have a problem with it. It did make me wonder, however, how many customers that particular clerk had seen who didn't care to wait 2 to 3 minutes. Where does this behavior originate? The first culprit we often blame is modern technology, which often is instantly gratifying to even the most petty desires. While this certainly has an effect on the world's culture, other factors must be considered.
With specific reference to the drive through example, it is more common in American culture that meals are faster, which an emphasis on efficiency. In other cultures, such as in Europe, mealtimes often last several hours, which emphasize savoring the meal and the company. All too often, Americans want instant gratification. It's not to say that Europeans or those in other countries don't, but perhaps they do not emphasize it as much as we do, due to cultural traditions or even lifestyle elements. In Europe, the majority of the middle class walks, bikes, or uses mass transit as a means of transport. I observed during a recent visit to England a young family, taking the metro to work and other destinations. As they bid goodbye to each other, it was the mirror of a mother dropping off her kids at school in America, but in a very different setting. These more commonly used means of transport in Europe often take longer, therefore increasing the physical, and I would argue mental and emotional, health of Europeans. The time spent walking, biking, and riding the metro releases chemicals in the brain that helps maintain a positive attitude. I would think it also conditions them to be able to be more patient.
It's not just about transportation systems. Norwegian elementary school days are only 3 hours long to allot for more time playing outside for the children. American school systems have days of 6 hours, often with only a 30 minute or less recess break. In Spain, all activity stops between the hours of 2 and 4pm for everyone to take a nap. The American corporate world works day and night to ensure productivity. The origins of the great composers of classical music lie in Europe, where a tradition of concerts lasting several hours still is prevalent in popular society. Americans, while not completely ignorant to classical concert tradition, certainly places more money and priority to popular artists, whose songs last a maximum of 4 minutes, as opposed to the usual 45 minute symphony. So why are Americans always in a hurry? The answer lies in our culture and our history. Perhaps it is even within our capitalist economy; in connection, the idea that if you work harder, longer hours than the next guy, you'll come out on top. But what does this do to our bodies, minds, and spirits? All work and no time for recreation, meditation, and personal reflection causes more of a detriment to our well being than success ever can compensate. So the next time you're ready to blow up at the waitress taking too long, or schedule your day with so many things that the only down time you get is your limited sleep, remember that there is always space for those things that matter most. Physical, mental, and spiritual well being enables higher success and productivity, greater satisfaction, and increased longevity.
