I have recently moved from Mohandessin to Heliopolis which is much closer to my University. Now I only take about 30 minutes instead of one hour on my way when there’s no traffic. I welcomed the move out with a wide embrace; it came as a true blessing to me. The over packed lengthy road to school would never be a problem anymore; I would find the will to make those weekend trips to the sports facilities on campus. A few weeks ago, on a fine Tuesday morning, I decided to finally pay a visit to the gym on campus. I woke up, drank my coffee, took a look at the stacks of undone school work forming a paper tower on my desk then I got dressed. Work could wait, right? I mean the gym shouldn’t take me more than 2 hours. But I was wrong, as soon as I got in my car, the very first street I passed by was over-packed. No no no no! I said aloud, crazily speaking to the empty passenger seat. I decided to turn around if those lining cars in front of me don’t move in three minutes. 1 Minute, nothing, 2 minutes, nothing, 3 minutes, still nothing. I was close to losing it. I hated being stuck in traffic not knowing the reason or knowing the reason. If I keep moving at this rate, it will take me more than one hour just to get there. My mind flashed to my paper tower, waiting for me on my desk. After about 12 minutes, the cars started moving but I wasn’t willing to take any chances. At the very first U turn, I went back the way I came from and hurried to my undone work, feeling irritated for wasting 30 minutes on getting dressed and making that useless car trip!
Stories could go on endlessly about my impatience. It’s the reason why I never eat from that salad place at school, I simply look with pity to the people standing and enduring the never ending queue. It’s the reason why I cannot wait for a page to load for more than a minute, I’d have to go make myself busy until it loads. It’s the reason why I never go to the overly packed copy center at school unless it’s really early in the morning. It’s the reason why I instantly leave if my turn is more three numbers behind when I visit the bank. It’s the reason why I rarely visit my relatives who live 1 hour away. It’s the reason why I choose to pass grudgingly when I find the queue to the fitting room immobilized in clothing stores. It’s the reason why I missed out on a lot of things and why I will miss out on many more things to come.
It’s also the reason why I can study much faster and I can manage my work more efficiently. It’s the reason why time is considered much more precious. It’s why I never procrastinate. It’s why I learn to choose what is worth my time and what isn’t.
I guess the question I have to ask myself now is: am I willing to endure the risk of becoming overly impatient in return for the increased efficiency?
