I am not a huge fan of commuting (as seems to be the general view after reading an article on what makes people happy – a short commute is a big one). However, I had quite a long way to go on the tube today so I decided to have a change in commuting strategy. Instead of burying my head in my iPhone or iPad (such is the thing to do on a commute – or sleep), I challenged myself to just simply sit and watch the goings on around me. I do find this a real challenge as I feel I should be doing something with the time. Eastern philosophy will tell you that to simply sit is one of the hardest things to do.
So there I was just sitting and watching (have to admit I did feel a little self conscious that I wasn’t focusing on a gadget like my fellow commuters). I found it fascinating though how many people get on to the tube and scan the carriage (with darting little eyes) to spot an empty seat. When they see one, they move with such alacrity – some almost run! Once the seat has been seized they either look proudly around as if to say ‘I won..’ or they don’t dare look up in case they bulldozed an old person or a pregnant woman who really could have benefitted from sitting down.
Although we are often tired when we are commuting – and a seat is a welcome relief to standing – we should remember that we spend far too much of our lives sitting as it is.
Next time you get onto a train see if you are one of the seat dashers or whether you casually hang near the door. If you are already in a seat (which I am sure you moved to in a civilized manner) watch how crazy people go to get a seat…it is quite amusing really.
Happy people watching (and standing)
I have to admit, I do not miss the daily commute. I loved the relationships that we formed with complete strangers who all had their “regular” seats. A sort of comradeship to weather the highs and lows (quite a few lows!) of southern railways. However, I do not miss the agressive bun fight that ensued on the platform on the way home. Squeezing myself into a small space and being forced to “ride” the train like a surfboard as there was nothing to hold onto. Being physically elbowed (on purpose) in the stomach while 8 months pregnant by a man who wanted to get into the carriage first and being asked to not perch on another mans table (again while 8 months pregnant – no one bothering to ask if I might like to sit down!).
It was always the same people who got up to offer people a seat and the same people who raised their papers to pretend they could not see what was happening.
I used to love watching people and spent time on each journey just observing. The lady who plucked her eyebrows, the man who picked his nose, the young girl who talked – way too graphically – about her life, the people who were constantly looking around to judge which seat would become free next and see what play they could make for the space. Although I don’t miss the commute i do miss the people watching. So much goes on in such a confined space. Fascinating.