Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Life is a mixed bag of happiness, joy, sadness, and sorrow. We all have positive and negative memories of life thus far, and will experience plenty more of both in the future.

Nobody likes stress, so why do so many among us choose to react so negatively to life’s insignificant events? The inspiration for this post is a man in his forties who behaved so ridiculously at a train station the other day. I haven’t seen anyone act so pathetically in all my life.

The almost unbelievable story- I promise it is 100% true – goes as follows;

I buy my coffee at Bristol Temple Meads station and check the latest update. I’m waiting for a train to Taunton that is running ten minutes late. As I thank the girl behind the counter who has expertly prepared my cappuccino, I turn towards platform 8 to find a seat.

There are approx 20 other people waiting for the train, none of whom are looking particularly happy with life. As I find a seat next to a man reading a book I pull out my phone to send a quick text to my ‘lift’ informing them of the small delay.

As I hit send, a man pacing up and down the platform draws my attention. Every time he turns around he glances at the platform information board to check on the train’s status. It’s due in 8 minutes. He sighs over and over again.

On the 5^th or 6^th glance he notices the train is now delayed by a further 2 minutes, and this is where he begins to react in such a childish manner. Let us not forget that 2 minutes is ONLY 120 SECONDS! On seeing this insignificant extension to the delay, he says to himself (but out aloud) ‘for f*ck sake’ and shakes his head in disbelief that a train that he has to catch dares to inconvenience him.

Before we get any further, I have to admit that I don’t like having to wait for something or someone that is running late. But, I do not get stressed about it as there is no point.

After the 10 minutes has passed an automated message comes over the public address system;

“The train now approaching platform 8 is the delayed 1244 cross country service to Plymouth, calling at Taunton etc, etc”

We all stand up and begin to gather our things together. Some passengers rush to edge of the platform in a desperate attempt to ensure they are first on to the train – don’t ask me why!

A minute goes by, before another message is played;

“Attention, this is a platform alteration. The delayed 1244 service to Plymouth will now be arriving at platform 6”

Now, this is MILDLY annoying as I have two heavy bags with me that I need to carry down one set of steps and carry back up another. But, being an adult, I understand that these things happen from time to time.

Our friend from before obviously takes this issue rather more seriously as he kicks his bag in disgust before shouting ‘f*cking hell’ at the top of his voice and picking is bag up in a blind temper and storming off down the steps.

While making his way up to platform 6 he spots a cleaner. With his anger still controlling his actions he obviously feels the need to take it out on somebody who looks as though they may work at the station. Therefore he stops alongside her, and barks ‘PLATFORM 6?’ as a means to find out if he is going the right way (despite the fact there are 20 or so of us all heading the same direction – and it’s clearly marked). In utter disgust at the way this idiot had just spoken to her, she chooses not to respond vocally and point up the steps instead. At this point he runs off up to the platform, pushing past people as he went.

I – thankfully – did not see him for the remainder of my short journey, but it would not surprise me if he spent his trip looking at his watch, shaking his head, and complaining to anyone working onboard the train.

This is just one example of many incidents, with varying degrees of intensity, I’ve witnessed in my time on earth thus far, but possibly the worst. It led me to start thinking;

Why Do We Let Life’s Insignificant Hurdles Bring Us Down?

I do not wish to sound morbid, but either one of us could be involved in a tragic accident tomorrow and this really could be our last day on this planet. So many of us, however, will have reacted badly to something small and meaningless at some point within the last 24 hours.

The guy at the train station let a tiny 10 minute delay to a train ruin his mood, and for what? The train was still 10 minutes late!

As humans we do not have control over many of life’s obstacles. Things do not always go as planned. BUT, we CAN control our response to these obstacles. Those who react positively will be far more successful in life than those who do not; I can assure you of that.

Next time a train is an hour late, or your flight is delayed or cancelled, react positively. Anger will not help you, but only serve to make the situation worse.