Go Slow! Work in Progress!

Driving to work during peak and reaching in time is no joke. It’s all about planning, precision, timing and yet you will find yourself waiting behind a bus that broke down, a car that wouldn’t start or just a signal that wouldn’t turn green! I would still say that cities like Bengaluru have manageable traffic. I know it may sound like a joke, but it is when I compare to Mumbai :) 

Bengaluru off late is attempting to change. Much delayed though, but there is an attempt by civic bodies to repair roads, put barricades for traffic discipline to name a few.

With a noble intent to repair roads, the civic bodies had put up huge barricades to allow them to fix pot holes. One can question the timing. Peak Hour? Well, one of these huge barricades had a message, Go, Slow, Work in Progress! You may want to think, why should we ‘Go Slow’ for our better future? Shouldn't we be rushing through, doing things with all agility, accomplish our tasks, be there our time and the train to success would come and pick us up.

With one foot on Clutch, another on brake, all I could do is to drive slow, really slow and think hard, really hard. I could just wish that I owned a helicopter and fly down to office daily. The world of fantasy, hah! Reality check, I was still in my car. I could see almost everyone around me, equally frustrated. Feels good when you know you aren’t alone isn’t it? Some even kept honking to vent their frustration. But really, how is it going to help anyways?

Being patient is not easy and at times where we are fighting hard against competition, we all suffer with what I would call, ‘instant success’ syndrome.

Want to buy a house, ‘just dial’ and there would be a queue of bank officials with brochures to sell you the house.

Feeling hungry? Dial Domino's and get a pizza in 30 minutes OR FREE! (I really like the free part) Everything has to happen ‘instant’, ‘Right now’ or you know what, I wanted this yesterday! No one likes waiting today. Do we?

My Dad always said how they had to wait for everything in their lives, Wait for trains, wait for job’s the famous add post “Vacancies” and even wait for water to be supplied to their homes. Their generation, era, was all about waiting. Waiting for Jobs, salaries, promotions, buy new pair of clothes, get a shelter. Endless. And here we are, in a generation where things happen at a click of a button.

India has grown rapidly over last few decades and we have been successful in many things. But ‘rapid’ growth & development certainly comes with a price. Development needs time and we got to be patient to see the results at least.

So really, is there a medicine for this Syndrome? Actually yes, there is and it’s a very simple one and guess what, this one is free too! So the formula is this. Being happy = Lower your expectations + be patient. Oh yes, it may not work in all situations, but certainly helps us avoid stress.

Finally when barricades were removed, people were relieved for a moment, but anxious again, who comes first? I turned on Car and the AC and was happy that I was not stressed at least and even happier to see the black top road.

In either case, plan ahead, be early and if you are still struck, remember Go slow, when the work is in progress!