Driving in Chicago
For the past two years every aspect of my life has been constantly improving. Still, somehow, there has always been some nagging issue that I haven’t been able to pinpoint that has held me back from fully enjoying what should be a very comfortable lifestyle.
Last night, while watching the snow from my living room, I realized something was horribly wrong. I was at peace and in that moment I was fully content just watching the snow fall. I was actually happy that it was snowing. The last time I was happy about snow… well it was because school was canceled. I am not going to divulge how many years it has been, but let it be known it has been a few.
So what has changed now and allowed me to enjoy something that has for so long been an annoyance? What immediately comes to mind is the new job I start Monday. The prospect of being able to learn and do something new coupled with the excitement of countless improvements over my old job is certainly something to brighten my mood. It is a bit of a red herring though. What is really behind breaking down the old barrier?
Driving. More than starting a new job, on Monday I will no longer be forced to drive a very expensive vehicle twenty-something miles through the most annoying traffic to and from work each day. Sure, taking a car might be faster than the CTA, but there are so many benefits to not having to get in that car five days a week.
When I get out of work - I want to relax. I don’t care if I am home. I just don’t want to think. I want to read a book, or surf the internet, or make some phone calls. What I really don’t want to do is sit in a car moving 10 feet at a time, battling to get to a place where I can relax. I also don’t want to try and anticipate what retarded things that woman working a sudoku puzzle or businessman looking things up on his laptop might do to fuck my day up. And in Chicago, if you don’t anticipate every driver’s every move, you will be one of those people with a dent in your car. I pay too much each month for my car to let it get dented.
So starting tomorrow I don’t have to drive anymore. And as soon as I can manage to sell my car for anything close to what I owe on it I won’t have to pay for it either. This really was the last holdout. The last big annoyance in my life that I needed to get rid of in order to enjoy all that I’ve been able to accomplish.
I am finally at a point that I feel proud about who I am and what I have done. I am able to notice the fruits of my labors around me. Lately, I have a new-found confidence and revitalized passion for life.
The next time you get on a CTA bus or train take a moment to think about how lucky we are in Chicago to even have public transportation, and how lucky you are to be able to use it instead of having to drive.
