The Tao of Traffic: The Art of Merely Existing on the Freeway
As I sit in my car, inching along the freeway, I’ve realized that the concept of Taoism has finally made sense to me. I’m not a Buddhist monk, nor a philosopher, but a stubborn commuter stuck in the throes of LA traffic. Yet, I’ve come to grasp the profound wisdom of the Tao: the art of merely existing in harmony with the natural order of things.
Embracing the Flow
Years ago, I would rage against the machine, my blood pressure soaring as I tailgated unsuspecting drivers, honking my horn in a futile attempt to will the traffic forward. But one fateful day, I discovered the power of surrender. As I merged onto the 405, I let go of my grip on the wheel, releasing the tension that had been building. I allowed the flow of traffic to dictate my pace, rather than resisting it. Ah, the liberation!
The Tao of Stagnation
Of course, this newfound acceptance didn’t mean I was content with the snail’s pace. No, I still scowled at the road-hogging RVs and the apparent disregard for traditional traffic norms. But I no longer let those pet peeves consume me. With each minuscule gain, I’d smile, acknowledging that progress was being made, no matter how glacial. As the endless crawl dictated my rhythm, I found solace in the stillness.
The Harmony of Friction
I recalled the concept of Tai Chi, where opposites interact to create harmony. On the highway, this harmony played out in dissonant harmonies: the engine purring, the tires squealing, the brake lights flashing. In this cacophony, I located a peculiar beauty – the gentle give-and-take between kinetic forces. The very traffic I once loathed became an intricate dance, where every vehicle and sound harmonized with others in a grand symphony of motionlessness.
As a result, my trips became a meditation, with each crepuscular crawl pairing my breath with the ebb and flow of the traffic. I traded speed for tranquility, accelerating my mental pace in the process. My stresses receded, replaced by a quiet placidity, reminiscent of the first wisps of morning mist rising from the Santa Monica Bay.
Beyond the Fray
In the grand tradition of Taoist wisdom, I found that my perception transformed from a quantum leap. I ceased being stuck; I became the freeway. No longer was I a mere passenger, cramped in a metal box, vulnerable to the whims of the traffic gods. I morphed into the traffic itself – an ephemeral, ever-changing part of the machine. Ah, the liberation!
Conclusion
The Tao of Traffic, it transpires, is not about the destination, but the journey. The being, not the driving. Traffic’s purpose, over time, shifted from bothersome nuisance to harmonious accompaniment. In this metamorphosis, I discovered the power of surrender, a concept long understood by Eastern sages and captured in the ancient Chinese text, the Tao Te Ching: "The Tao does nothing, and yet nothing is left undone."
In a world where traffic congestion is an accepted fact, I’m no longer a victim of circumstance, but a cursorory accomplice in the grand symphony of stuck-ness. Oh, the serenity it brings!