Can this traffic get any slower?
My coffee's getting cold.
Roaring engines.
My ankle feels sore...
I should've had a better breakfast.
Faint sirens.
What if I'm late to the meeting?
Is she going to be mad?
Loud sirens.
This guy behind me better slow down and get off my tail.
Bright lights.
Ambulance whizzing by
Like there's no tomorrow.
For the person inside, there might not be one.
Loud sirens.
Lights.
Faint sirens.
Engines.
Today, I'll be alright.
Whenever I’m stuck in rush hour and complain to myself about my air not blasting cool enough or my foot cramping from stop-n-go traffic, I get completely wrapped up in my own bubble of concerns and minor discomforts and worries about the day ahead of me. When an ambulance whizzes by with the lights on, my heart stops and all of those minuscule problems become a blur for a minute.
Moments like seeing an emergency service vehicle interrupt you. Your attention is drawn to it and its urgency. For a moment, your cares and hopes extend beyond yourself to a situation that affects your community. It’s a reminder that there is a whole world outside of your bubble, and there are hardships happening that are not even comparable to your minor annoyances.
These moments teach lessons. They teach humility and graciousness. You become thankful that you have not been plagued with an emergency and you are secure in your car, safely traveling to do who knows what. You should be humble of the good opportunities and comfort the world has been able to give you. Of course, this should not appear to invalidate or eradicate your smaller problems. This lesson is not about saying your feelings are invalid because they aren’t the most intense; it is about perspective and thankfulness.
Busy lifestyles can get gruelling, but today, you’ll be alright.
