by William Taboas, MA

Here in New York, the weather has been unpredictable. Yes, winters are cold, but the unpredictability of recurrent impending snow storms has thrown the city into a loop at every occasion. City dwellers, like me, are not happy with the weather, since we walk or take public transportation to most places. At the announcement of blizzards or heavy storms, roads get closed off, buses and subway service stop running, and commuter trains get delayed. Walking through the icy and slushy streets becomes a safety hazard, making it dangerous and sometimes impossible to move around the city. There is very little we can do at this point, except hunker down in our homes. At this point, instead of disturbing myself that things should be otherwise, I repeat to myself: Let it snow.

On Tuesdays, I commute out of the city, taking the Metro-North commuter train. Coming back home recently, I had to wait for the train at the station while the announcements mentioned a “30 minute delay”. Sure, I was annoyed at first, but I calmed myself down by thinking about how the weather might have caused the delay. Then I started thinking “there’s no use getting upset over a delay that’s out of my control”. So I bought a snack, and perused the Internet on my smart phone, distracting myself to the point of experiencing patience. Then, the announcements mentioned “police activity”, to explain the delays. Later that evening, I found out a tragedy happened, where a train collided with a car a couple of stops away. Things were put in perspective immediately:  My momentary discomfort from a delay, and whatever consequences that delay brings, is nothing compared to the tragic loss of human life. Since then, for every delay, I sincerely hope that everything is alright. Let things be delayed.

Yesterday, I had to go to the post office. To no surprise, the expected queue for package pickup what long and moving slow. Anticipating that the line would be long helped quell my thoughts that would lead to frustration, and by the time I went in, my mind was inoculated to the inevitable tedium. It wasn’t easy, and like Dr. Ellis would say “It’s a hassle, not a horror”, but I got through the line. Turns out they misplaced my package, and I had to return at another time. There was nothing else I could do, and there was very little in my control. All I could control was my attitude. So I said to myself: Let it be.

What would you like your attitude to be in anticipation of the delays and barriers that are out of your control? While we might not be able to control external events, we can control our reactions to them.  So what do you say to yourself???  Well, I see more snow clouds coming tonight, so…Let it snow.

William Taboas, M.A.