Life Balanced

This week I had to go to the DMV to get my lost driver’s license replaced. Most people associate the DMV with numerous long lines, numbers being called out, and a lot of standing around and waiting. On this visit however, I decided to go in with a positive attitude and take advantage of my time there by observing and learning. My power of intention paid off and not only did I get in and out of there within a half hour, but I came out with the following life lessons.

• It pays to be prepared. Although I scheduled my appointment online more than one and a half months ago, when I got up to Window 20 they did not have my appointment. Fortunately, I had printed my confirmation number way back when and brought it along. I was told that had I not brought it, I would have had to start at the “no appointment” line which would have added at least another half hour to my time there. By taking the extra time to be organized and prepared, your life can be so much simpler.
• No one is better than anyone else. Rich or poor, MBA or high school dropout, nice car or clunker, fat or thin - it doesn’t matter at the DMV. We all have to go through the same lines and the same process to get our driver’s license or ID card. It is one of the few places where everyone is equal and we are all treated the same. From that standpoint alone, we should try and treat everyone like the DMV employees treat us.
• An attitude of gratitude. When I went up to Window 2 to turn in my final paperwork, I struck up a conversation with the woman at the counter. She was all smiles and had pictures of her family at her desk. We talked about vacations and laughed at how difficult it is to get back into work mode. Although our conversation was brief, taking the time to have a deliberate, positive interaction in a not so usual place left me feeling good about the day.
• Patience is a virtue. A DMV visit can’t happen without some patience. When you walk in the door, you see dozens of people in lines and waiting, and there are approximately 25 windows visitors are directed to depending on their needs. We live in a world where everyone is in a hurry, and when we are forced to stop what we are doing or wait, it can be a source of frustration. By being patient and accepting that there are some things we can’t control, you will quickly reduce your level of stress and anxiousness.
• Listen and learn. I love to people watch and the DMV is one of the best places to do so. You see people who are happy, excited, grumpy and impatient. People are there interacting with their young children, friends and parents. By watching and listening to others, you can gain a lot of knowledge about how words and actions affect people.
• Value your time. I usually bring a book or something to do when I expect to have a long wait, but I forgot this time. Rather than sitting around doing nothing, I thought that it would be a good time to brainstorm on some blog topics. One of my favorite bloggers, Leo Babauta from Zen Habits, recently wrote a guest post on skelliewag.org on 20 ways to come up with great ideas. One of his suggestions is to carry a notebook with you because you never know when you will think of a topic for a blog article. Whether you have a blog or not, this is a great idea because you can use it for many things - make a shopping list, write a poem/song, keep a journal, set some goals, etc. Or you can even take the time to just relax. Whatever you do, be intentional. Your time is valuable!

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