Why wouldn’t one like to start a monotonous workday or end a stressful one with a drive at 80 mph, wind gushing through the windows and Led Zepplin blaring through the car stereo, is beyond my comprehension. As for me, I love my commute. It’s more often than not better part of the day, not just because of my hippie inclination to music but for the quality thinking time it affords.
Our days are increasingly occupied with friends and family, chores to run at home or work, time spent on hobbies etc. What little time is left is easily consumed by the infinite sources of media – the ever present and the cancerous tube or the addictive internet. There is hardly any time left to ponder, or introspect -except for that wonderful commute.
Good investment decisions, such as the one from this morning’s commute – to cash out of the stock market and shift to mutual funds [1]; ideas to share on my blog, such as this post itself – thought up during this evening’s commute; solutions to many seemingly intractable problems – like the best way to run outdoors at night, are all examples where my commute has made a difference. But, these are just examples that work for me now, when I drive to work, different circumstances could present other opportunities.
A few years ago I was commuting by bus, spending about an hour each way, in a few months that I had to do that – I finished reading the “Design of the Unix Operating System – Morris Bach” and the “Linux Kernel Development – Robert Love”. I haven’t finished anything as technical and voluminous since. It’s an aside, that they were completely irrelevant to my job, but that’s just poor judgment, besides I am sure they were good for my soul [2]. You just need to jump start the process the commute itself would unleash your creativity.
Commute is not a waste of time, it’s quality time like no other. Its regularity and duration are a boon, not a curse – you can bank on them and plan around them. It spares you time to your self with a minimum of distractions. A highly qualified surgeon I know, refers to the toilet seat as his thinking chair – for the very same reasons. It would be a sad state of affairs if one could not occupy/ entertain themselves with their minds for even an hour or so a day. Don’t let that happen to you.
Try to make most of this time: get podcasts you would like to hear, get a book on audio, call friends and family you should stay in touch with, read books, write papers whatever – do what works for you and switch when you find something better. I recommend dropping the windows, turning up the music, and contemplating life.
Ignore the people who talk about the cost of fuel, or the depreciation of the vehicle, or the fare, or the cost of a few speeding tickets etc. They are the kind who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
FootNotes
[1] In my opinion the economy is looking good, the housing will continue to crash and the stock market as a whole is going to rally in 2006. Better returns at a significantly lower risk can be gained by simply investing in funds rather than picking individual stocks because economic factors are going to outweigh individual performances and will be the primary factor determining the stock prices.
[2] I learned the concept of certain things being good for the soul, from Prof. Harry Perros at NC State.
I missed mentioning one of the most innovative use of commute time, my friend Andi shaves while commuting … now if only we could arrange for a shower commute the office would be a better smelling place.
Dear Mr Amit,
I read ur blog and thought just how unfair u are toward the people in the city….driving at 80mph? Firstly just because u can do it why brag about it?Secondly the metro is good and great and our lives depend on it and I don’t think you should insult this great innovation with things as mundane as CARS. Go Metro!!!!
Ok, Guys, I kinda wonder who else other than me has read his musings, may be there are others out there who think he is crazy like I do, and keep checking his musings as an output of a crazed mind, and get an insight into next step, which more often than not turns out to be something as drastic as jumping out of a plane or jumping in a lake, after having read a book on swimming (No, he didnt know how to swim prior to reading!!!).
Either case, as crazy as lunatic he maybe, from talking to him ffor the past 6 months , I see a radical change in his thought process, untill mid last year, he used to be an altruist, always trying to look for ways to give away money, make as less of it as humanly possible, But this year I see his tone has changed, He sounds like an die hard capitalist to me now.
But no matter how crazy he is, I will still have to give him credits for doing a good job at times of blending ideas from one field into another. I do agree commute is a great time, I have always enjoyed it, on Interstates, when you just flow by , But at the same token if you are unfortunate enuf to ride a state highway with red light at regular intervals, it cud not be more distracting and painful.
I was going to get back at him today and slaughter his writing, but for the sake of his sanity I am gonna refrain , from stuff like that and just follow and keep track of the stocastic processes of his brain.
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Insane Cabbage
Alabama