The other day as I was on the way home from work, the train stopped in the middle of the countryside. You never quite know why a train stops somewhere between stations but you can be sure it means the train is delayed. A long time ago I realised that wearing a watch increased my sense of anxiety because I’d sit on a train which was just quietly doing nothing and I’d keep checking my watch to see just how much more delayed we were and figuring how much later I’d arrive than planned. I realised that I had absolutely zero control over the train’s movements and looking at my watch every couple of minutes wasn’t going to get me to my destination any faster. Taking the watch off let me look at other things instead – a book, a paper, a notebook, hey, even the outside world!
So as we sat doing nothing much I looked out the window and something caught my eye.
No, not the buildings in the distance, but that blackbird sitting on the bush. I zoomed in to get a closer look.
Look at him singing away! I couldn’t hear him from inside the train but a song immediately came into my head
I enjoyed the moment.
Here’s my suggestion for today. If you find yourself unexpectedly held up or delayed take a wee look around and see what you can see (or hear, or smell, or feel). What comes to your mind?
Heroes Not Zombies 
You’re so right Bob – a journey will take as long as it takes and wasting nervous energy getting agitated and/or angry just tires you out!
While sitting stationary in a taxi this morning on a ride that usually takes 5 minutes and took 40, I tried to appreciate what I was seeing out the window…I really did…but unfortunately there is not much to see from the window of a Luton taxi, except Luton!
It made me think of that episode of Fawlty Towers where an elderly lady complains that the view is not good enough. Basil asks what she expects to see from a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Herds of wildebeests sweeping majestically across the sands perhaps?
Hey Lee,
I was in a taxi in Luton this morning too. In fact, we had the same taxi driver! He told me about you. “This Scottish guy I picked up this morning, he says to me, is that a herd of wildebeests over there? I said, no mate, ain’t no wildebeests here. This is Luton!”
Lack of imagination I thought………
🙂
Yoga has helped me A LOT with this. I’ll sometimes get stuck behind an old codger in an old codger car (usually, a large, white, American made land yacht) who’s not quite figured out the purpose of his accelerator pedal (old codgers are usually not in a hurry to get anywhere, of course). I used to get all worked up about this sort of thing, but now, I try very hard to enjoy the trip. My getting upset isn’t going to get Grampa out of my way, and I’ll just get there when I get there.
Hee, I thought of this song!
http://www.playlist.com/node/38128298
stopping to smell the roses – even on a delayed train! Beautiful Dr. Bob! Looks like the English countryside was nice for a change and not pissing it down with rain! How could you not appreciate that?
I’m sure yoga WILL help a lot, mrschili. Some days it seems that old codgers seek us out, doesn’t it? Good to be able to adjust our mindset when we can’t adjust a codger, isn’t it? 🙂
Thanks, KatK, well, well, I should have known you’d find THAT particular song!
Hey, Amber, it was the SCOTTISH countryside! Ok, ok, so you are right, I should have noticed……it wasn’t raining! It sure does rain a lot in Scotland – it’s how the country looks such a lovely green colour! It’s not rained much here last few weeks, actually, but as I right this, at this very minute, the rain is HAMMERING down on my roof! Thanks for your positive feedback and encouragement, Amber
Hey my inlaws live in Kircudbright, nr. Dumfries… South West Scotland… lovely place. For some reason, I thought you were in England. Sorry I will not mistake you a Scot again! Should have known however, the only sensible doctors in the UK I ever met were Scots.
Hey your inlaws live in a LOVELY town! I live in Stirling. Right in the heart of Scotland…….see my post on Stirling Castle (which is the MOST viewed post on my blog for some reason!)
[…] 23, 2008 by bobleckridge My post about the blackbird spotted from the delayed train prompted my friend, the poet, Larry Butler, to send me a poem he had […]
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