Hurry Up and Wait
One of the most radical concepts to accept is the idea that a minute or two really isn't going to make a difference when you are late or in a rush. Sometimes we get sooo frantic that we think we can't waste a second, we must go, go, go, now, now, now! I see this a lot in my yoga classes. People screeching into the parking space, prodding and pushing their children into the daycare, running into the classroom, throwing down their mats and laying down panting like "OKAY NOW IT'S TIME TO RELAX!!!!!" It always makes me chuckle. Poor things, I just wonder if the amount of time saved is really worth the amount of time it will take them to chill back down again. Seems like an even exchange to me.

It's the same with traffic. We've all seen those frantic white knuckled drivers (and I'm sure we've all been them too) weaving in and out of traffic, cutting people off, riding too closely to the car ahead only to end up at the same spotlight. Depending on which side of the driver day you're having, you are either gleeful that 'they' didn't get anywhere or rationalizing that at least I'm ahead of YOU.

My daughter and I have a private joke as we are driving that the world has just become a mess of screaming, frantic, waving arms in the air roller coaster drivers. Watch them sometimes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

It is really hard when you are in a hurry to stop and realize that one minute will not make a difference. I used to say to my husband (who is quite an aggressive driver) "Better late than dead" Not that it has any impact on his driving but I thought it quite clever. The point is what difference does it make if you are 5 minutes late or 6 minutes? Late is late. If you are really that worried about it, use the anxiety to make the changes you need to not be late in the first place.

Or don't worry about it. Or figure out why you are late. For most people it's habitual. You'll notice it's always the same people who are always late. This is not coincidental. I'm sure there are whole books devoted to this in pysch 101. "so, do you enjoy controlling the situations you create? were your parents early everywhere? or do you just thrive on anxiety?"

Waves hands over head screaming, "AHHHHHHHH!" Tee hee! Next time you drive, look around--it's really quite entertaining. As long as you steer clear and take your time. Be pass-ive , let "them" go by. I'm sure it's much more important to "them" to be first.

Remember Jesus said, "But many people who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first.' Matthew 19:30

And don't worry about being late to yoga, take your time....we all end up in the same place anyway. Hmmmmm. Namaste'