Love the commute!

Recently I said goodbye to my brief stint as an entrepreneur, and got back into the corporate grind as an IT professional. Part of the transition to the corporate world was getting used to the long commute to my office located about 20 kilometres from home. For those who know Pune, the traffic here is very interesting to say the least. Traffic rules are non-existent, and there is virtually no traffic education or enforcement. It is easy to get into an accident, and easier still to get frustrated with the utter disregard for rules on the roads.

Two months into my new job, I must be pulling my hair out with the long commute to and from work, right? Dead wrong! I actually look forward to the commute. What the hell is going on here?

As I started going to work, I realized that I needed some entertainment during the commute. My iphone came to my rescue here. I have my favourite music loaded on my iphone, and the first thing I do when I get into the car is put on some music. The second thing I do is pick a couple of people I need to catch up with over the phone. I put on the hands free headphones on my phone, and call these people on the way.

However what has really changed the nature of the commute for me is a change in my attitude to driving. I no longer drive with a view to get to my destination as soon as possible. If someone cuts me off, I let them do it with a smile. The chaos around me is no longer a source of frustration, it is a source of amusement. A few extra minutes to get to my destination is an opportunity to listen to an additional song, or speak with a friend.

What is extremely interesting is that I have found many more people driving with the same kind of attitude during rush hour. I see many more smiles, and decent, careful drivers patiently going about their business. Either this is a new phenomenon, or I am noticing it for the first time. Either way, for the first time in my life, the commute is an opportunity, not a royal pain in the ass!