Everyone has a story. This is so easy to forget.
The New York City subway is one of the most overwhelming forms of transportation in the world (or at least in my opinion.) The subway is open 24 hours, 7 days a week and is one of the world's oldest public transit systems. The subway has the most stations and the most trackage of all metro systems. And if you have ever taken a trip on the E train, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
The subway taught me lessons that I never believed it could. Most New Yorkers zone out, listen to their podcasts on their daily commute and don't give the subway a second thought. I, on the other hand, gained perspective I don't think I will ever forget.
1. Everyone has a story.
The subway has a way of taking the most diverse and different people in the overpopulated New York region, and squeezing them all into one train en route to a variety of stops. When you are on your daily commute, you're easily worried about yourself. You think about getting to your destination, what streets you'll walk in your pumps without spilling your latte. But, if you take a moment to look around you, you realize how each and every person on your subway car has a life, a past, a background, a story. I spoke with a woman who gave me the correct directions and she started to talk about her college years. It was refreshing to have a genuine talk with a passenger rather than expecting that they'll get in your way when it's time to make the haul out of the crowded car. Remember this.
2. Life moves pretty fast. Take a moment to enjoy it.
The daily morning commute in New York can be frightening to newcomers. The hustle and bustle of the morning travelers can make you second guess everything you thought you knew, honestly. Even the speed of the subway car seems super unsafe and disheartening. But, overall, sometimes you need to stop taking life so seriously. Laugh! If you spill your coffee on your blouse, so what? You have a job, a means of transportation and you know where you're going. Life is pretty great for you, right now. You're in New York City! Enjoy it.
3. You will doubt everything. Don't.
When you're on the morning route to Manhattan, you'll see people of all walks of life going to where they need to be. They are determined, they are confident and they walk so fast in their business attire as if it's easy. How? You can barely walk in your pumps without wiping out! Take a moment and breathe. You are exactly where you need to be. It'll come with time. The routine, the comfort and the morning route will all fall into place. Although everyone around you seems to have their lives together, in reality they probably don't. Don't doubt what you're doing.
4. Let your hair down. Don't sweat the small stuff.
A subway ride is the epitome of stress and anxiety. The cluster amount of people in a closed space can make your blood pressure rise faster than the temperatures in a New York summer. While you are on your way to work, meetings or a coffee date with that new guy you're talking to, you are probably stressed on your subway ride into the city. You spill your latte on your skirt and your skirt is way too tight. Ugh. Don't worry about stuff like that. You probably look lovely, you're on your own to conquer the day and stress does no good. In a few moments, you will be walking into fresh air. You'll make it.
5. You are capable of so much more than you think.
This is pretty deep, but it's one hundred percent true. Once you conquer the subway system, you truly have the ability to conquer huge obstacles in life. Figuring out the subway system is a headache within itself. All of the routes are majorly confusing and it all seems to be in a different language. You probably felt intimidated once you first stepped foot into a subway station, but look at you now. You're a queen. Slay.
6. Life is a runway. Strut your stuff.
You never know who you will see on a subway. But in addition to that thought, you will see some pretty out of this world things. People with different styles, taste in fashion, taste in music, taste in anything. You will find yourself in a melting pot of New York City. Nothing is more genuine and raw than a ride in a subway cart across the city. Wear what you want. Do what you want. The world is your runway. Strut your stuff and show everyone who you are. They will look at you, and they will try to figure out who you are. Show them. YAS QUEEN.
The subway is so much more than a transportation system. It's a way of life. Conquer it, use it and soak up any ounce of wisdom you can receive from it. Take a ride, darling.
