A chance to slow down

    So often we get caught up in the crazy schedules of our own lives that we forget to think about others around us.
    In October and again in November, I traveled by airplane to two academic conferences on the East Coast. Everyone knows the hassle of airports: waiting in the security lines, waiting for the plane, waiting to board. There’s a lot of waiting, and often there are delays.
    I think airports, like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), are meant to try people’s patience.
    I always tend to arrive early, thinking I can avoid the stress of being rushed, but it never fails that there are impatient people in line – people who, perhaps, got caught in traffic or forgot to plan their time accordingly and seem to be running late for their flight.
    Most recently, as I waited patiently in the security line, I could hear from behind the grumbles and “excuse me” from someone trying to inch their way forward in line so as not to miss their flight. Of course, I was irritated, but I, nonetheless, moved aside so that the person could pass.
Test of patience
    In front of me was a well-dressed business man who, apparently, had somewhere he needed to be. As the person cut in front of him, not only did he loudly groan, but then turned to complain to me about the incident, expressing his discontent at arriving early only to meet an enormous line in security and feeling cheated that certain individuals needed to be hurried along.
    Everyone knows that as the holidays draw closer, the airports will only become busier and more crowded. The same will be true of the shopping centers. We know what to expect, and yet, there always seems to be one or two individuals who remain irritated and desire to vocalize their discontent.
    These feelings of being rushed and irritated about experiences is only prolonged by stores’ rush to put out seasonal merchandise. Barely following on the heels of Halloween, stores have begun putting out Christmas decorations and paraphernalia. Indeed, I was surprised to see, just last weekend, my university setting up the lighted nativity scene and covering the campus with garland and Christmas ribbons. While it’s certainly wonderful to begin getting in the holiday spirit, I think it’s a bit early! We haven’t even reached Thanksgiving yet.
    Perhaps it’s because I still measure time in terms of academic semesters, but I always feel as though the months of November and December fly by. Perhaps this is because these are the months with the most anticipated holidays and the rush of finals weeks.
    Either way, it seems ironic that these months, in particular, are always over in the blink of an eye, because these are the months that we celebrate those people around us. In November, we celebrate the people and circumstances in our lives that we are most thankful for. In December, we anticipate the birth of our Savior and celebrate his coming with those we love. In the months in which we should be focused on others and the spirit of celebration and thankfulness, it seems that we lose our patience the most.
    This holiday season, I plan on trying to be more aware of my surroundings and take more time to focus less on myself and my chaotic schedule and, instead, focus on those around me, celebrating those people. Rather than continually rushing to meet the next deadline or meeting, we might begin to slow down and take the time to realize the change of the seasons, the transitions between holidays and the moments of celebration that occur each day, rather than once or twice a year.
    Heather Bozant Witcher can be reached at hbozantwitcher@clarionherald.org.