It’s 2021 and it’s about damn time we feel comfortable discussing our personal traumas. And speaking of 2021, we have yet another universal pain to add to our mental health discourse: waiting in line when you could have just walked up to the front to get your food.
It’s going to be okay. We’re here for you.
Let’s backtrack. So you decided to treat yourself by ordering one of your favorite meals. However, when you drove to the restaurant there was a line out the door! You didn’t want to annoy the busy staff by sliding right up against the customer in front, so you patiently waited in line. Traumatically, when you got to the front the cashier informed you that you didn’t need to waste 15 minutes waiting just to grab your grub.
Your day was ruined. Hell, maybe your week. You wondered where things went so wrong. Maybe you opted to wait out of an abundance of politeness. Or perhaps you feared the glares of those who think you’re trying to cut the line. Talk about a no-win situation. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama once said, “By rushing to the front, you might hurt others. But by standing in line, you always hurt yourself.” Eastern philosophy is usually ahead of America by a good 6 years.
When memories of cold burgers and judgmental eyes wake you up in the middle of the night, just remember this is hard for everyone. You’re not alone. You didn’t do anything wrong and in time no one is going to remember your faux pas. Well, except for you. But life is often about minimizing damage so you’ll probably make it through regardless. You will order again from that restaurant and you will remember their pickup policy. The sun will shine on you another day.