I drive a lot.
Probably too much.
And driving in Maryland is tough because we’ve got some of the worst traffic in the country. That’s on a good day, the rare day that one’s commute isn’t impacted by what seems like never ending road work.
Don’t even get me started on Maryland drivers in the snow.
And by snow I mean one lonely, single, solitary, snowflake.
But the other thing that takes a bad traffic day and supercharges is the Christmas Season.
Dig that!
It’s the time of year when all of the Fish Stick People are out driving.
The Fish Stick people are drivers that are normally home on a weeknight, eating their fish sticks, and watching television.
That might not sound bad to you. And truth be told, I love to stay in and wear my lounge pants while delivering TED talks to my dog. I don’t eat fish sticks because I’m vegetarian. But I’d be open to trying some kind of fake versions.
Anyway, the problem with The Fish Stick people is they suck at driving.
Maybe it’s because they don’t do it all that much. Maybe they work close to home. Or maybe they are retired and a bit out of practice.
It doesn’t matter why. And they aren’t bad people intent on sabotaging my journey.
But it’s the holiday shopping season and they are out shopping for the perfect gifts, getting in automobile accidents, and adding to the volume of traffic.
And there is nothing we can do about it.
Nope.
Nothing.
A very wise teacher, Kondo Sensei, once told me:
You can’t change other people. You can only change yourself. And if you change yourself in a positive manner, a lot of times other people respond to that change positively.
Well, I can’t change The Fish Stick people.
So I change my driving habits as much as possible.
During December, I try my best to allow extra time whenever driving to an engagement. I make an effort to avoid places like malls and shopping centers during high volume hours. I keep my phone is loaded with audiobooks, podcasts, and fresh music so that I’ve got something interesting going into my brain if I do get stuck in traffic.
And I make fewer plans.
So that I drive less.
And remember, “This too will pass.”
Nothing is forever, not even driving with The Fish Stick People.
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*Photo by gladys arivia on Unsplash