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Creative things to do while being stuck in commuter traffic at first seems a little difficult. I mean somehow you would first have to get your mind off of the fact that precious moments of your life are just passing you by. Not to mention that driving in more or less normal moving traffic takes, or should take, the majority of your waking attention. So that would seem to leave meditation out, unless your meditation was somehow the act of driving itself. I'm thinking the Zen of bumper to bumper slow moving traffic. Gee, just what you want to do, be totally in the moment of being stuck in traffic. Still there are some who might find value and discipline in this meditation. And who knows, it might make for some safer drivers.

Some might think talk radio would be creative in commuter traffic. Since I don't find talk radio creative at all, I won't suggest it to you. I'd rather listen to the whine and idle of my car engine. Talk radio reminds me of the general lack of creativity in public discourse everywhere. From Music to Sports. I've never been mored bored with corporate entertainment. Yet the masses continue to listen and be spectators. I honestly believe that nothing points to the over all lack independent critical analysis in Intelligent thought than watching corporate entertainment offerings.

So what can be a creative use of commuter time? I suppose it could be an exercise in dreaming. Dreaming of a day of personal independence. Freedom from the corporate demands and their strangle hold over your daily lives. I'm dreaming of a day when the cities all become havens for the people to create themselves and live life the way they want to, at their own pace. Free from the propaganda of patriotism and duty to country and Corporation. Free from the expectation that they can only find fulfillment in being an integral, participating part of something bigger than themselves. I say nothing is bigger than your own dreams. And nothing is more important than pursuing happiness on your own terms. The pursuit of happiness was one of the first constitutional concerns mentioned by our Founding Fathers. That concern seems to have gotten lost in the hectic living and serving others mentality that passes for the modern, post industrial culture we live in today. Call it what you want. Use any euphemism you please. Just don't be deluded into thinking it's anything other than slavery.

So while driving to work on a slow moving, crowded hi-way, It might just be a good thing to count your blessings. Sometimes you just have to make the best of a poor situation. That in itself is creative and recreative. Regenerative of the elan vital that yearns for the life of Freedom. You could always use this time to plan, not just yearn. We live in blessed times despite all the apparent wrong and limitations. Some limitations may be self imposed. You could use this commuter time for some honest self inspection. An honest self appraisal of your willingness to take risks and fight for a greater freedom for your life. You can't blame others for what you yourself have settled for in life. You want things to change for yourself? Then look in the mirror. There's your advocate and personal warrior right there. So what's it going to be?

Learn more about this author, David Patterson.
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