The city has everything for everyone and no time for anything else. No time to stop and smell the flowers. Life’s best things are full of clichés.
I smile at the person behind me. We start talking. What else should one do in a long bathroom queue? She’s from Brazil. She’s been living in NYC for a year. Last night, she stayed on a call for an hour to give her undivided attention to the friend in need. The friend was both appreciative and incredulous. It’s hard to find someone who’s willing to listen expecting nothing in return. She and I connect. South Africa and Brazil have a lot in common: Nice people. Great weather. Declining economy. Debilitating crime rates.
But we both see New York with outsider perspectives.
The rat race. Everyone is running as fast as they can. They are going nowhere. They’re all standing still, free-wheeling in their cage of opulence of their own creations. No one forced them into the cage. No one put a gun to their heads. The only way out is to stop the race.
- Slow down
- Stand still
- Look around to find ourselves in cages alongside others
- Step away from the wheel
- Exit the cage
I’m currently at #3.5. How about you?