Traffic and Happiness

There is nothing more I hate than traffic. As I live in rural Creek County commuting to work (or anywhere else for that matter) is not an option. This morning my usual hour commute transformed into over an hour and a half, thanks to a traffic accident about a mile outside of downtown Tulsa. Yesterday I traveled to Norman for a meeting with the director of the Small Town Studio at OU's Institute for Quality Communities. What should have been about an hour and a half commute turned into nearly two hours thanks to at least three traffic accidents. All of this commuting, traffic, and accidents makes me wonder what it is about driving a vehicle Oklahomans find so attractive. Anywhere else in the US, especially out of the country, so many options of public transportation are available. Yet in Tulsa we fight these ideas because we demand to have the freedom of personal transportation. I'll tell you right now if boarding transit such as commuter rail and traveling to Tulsa or Oklahoma City (as my home is located centrally between the two) were possible I would buy a boarding pass tomorrow. Think about how much time we waste idling in traffic, not to even mention the damage we're doing to the environment and our own health. I have to say from experience there is nothing more stressful than dodging traffic at speeds well over 75 mph on the Creek/Turner Turnpike on my way to and from Tulsa daily. At the same time I choose not to live in Tulsa, because it is not something I desire. Yet the opportunities for employment are limited in Depew, and much of Creek County for that matter.

Yes, all of this ranting comes to a point. Am I the only one who misses small town life? The ability to live, work, play, raise a family, all in one place. To be able to get of work and be home in ten minutes arriving to eager faces. It seems we as a nation are losing track of what is important. Leisure and family time are pushed aside while we focus on the hustle and bustle of the workday, this workday which often extends until late hours at night and even the weekend at times. Why do we spend 50+ hours per week away from home doing things which lead to bad health, stress, and often a shortened lifespan? What happened to family dinners, playing catch with your kids, game night, and true quality family time? It's been replaced with video games, DVD players everywhere imaginable, endless soccer/baseball/basketball/cheerleading/academic leagues, often which have children out every night of the week past bedtime. Can we say exhaustion? I remember as a child eating dinner together every night as a family, going on a Saturday drive and playing I Spy, being so dirty after playing outside all day having to be hosed off before being allowed in the house.

We as a nation/state/city/town/neighborhood/individual need to take some time to look at what we value in life. Is that 60 hours a week we put in worth the time away from family? Is making 60 grand a year (more/less) worth depriving ourselves from our true passions? When are we going to stop and smell the roses, after they've completely wilted from our neglect? Maybe as a 24 year-old I have an unrealistic view of life, some may even say I've never lived in the real world. I can tell you now I am in my sixth straight year of college and that in May I will graduate with my master's degree. I have been married over a year and my husband and I pay bills (including tuition) on a regular basis. I also know that I have worked hard for the past few years in order to do something I enjoy, but have no plans of dedicating my life to my career. I'm going to work hard, do something I love, and then come home every night to my true passion, my family. I may not leave a legacy in the business world, but that is not my desire, the true legacy is the people you touch in life, the difference you make in someones life, and the values and character you instill in your children and people you come to know over a lifetime.

Executive Summary:

• Commuting = waste of time
• Money does not buy happiness