Catching the Bus: A Reminder to Slow Down

As someone who commutes to work using public transportation, I often find that catching buses is similar to playing Subway Surfer—only less dangerous. While the character in Subway Surfer runs from a guard after being caught vandalizing the subway, I run to the bus stop to catch a passing bus, since there’s no fixed schedule to rely on.

In my defense, I don’t go around breaking rules. I’m not risking my safety by running on moving trains either. I’m just trying not to get squeezed like a sardine in a can if the next bus arrives late and everyone rushes to cram inside.

However, the act of catching the bus has been getting a little out of hand lately. I’ve been running a lot the past few weeks, afraid I might miss one. (Some might call it a good workout, but trust me, it’s not!) My mind somehow convinces itself that the first bus to pass by is my lucky pick, pushing thoughts like, “It’s quick and not too crowded! Go catch it—or face the chaos of the next one!” As a result, my mornings haven’t been as slow and peaceful as they should be. I’ve become an ever-worried human being who doesn’t think she’s quick enough.

It’s not fun—and it’s certainly not aligned with my desire to romanticize the little things in life.

But see, if there’s one thing the universe loves to do from time to time, it’s crack a joke to remind us. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think there’s a fixed schedule for buses here in Jakarta. And since the route I take is only crowded before and after office hours, the person in charge doesn’t send many buses in that direction. You can probably imagine how packed the bus gets during those times, especially when the wait between buses feels endless, right?

Well, that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid with all the running and breathless sprints. And honestly, my mission to reach the bus stop as early as possible has been working pretty well, if I may say so. I usually arrive just in time to catch the earlier bus before it leaves. Even if it’s a little crowded, I manage to board and continue my commute.

But lately, something… suspiciously hilarious has been happening more often than not. Just a few minutes after I get off the half-full bus, there’s almost always another one right behind it.

And the next bus? Almost always empty. I could probably lie down across a few seats and do a Savasana pose right there.

So even if the joke’s on me, maybe it’s the universe’s way of scolding me for rushing too much. I haven’t exactly been doing what I set out to do. It’s been a few weeks of running around without stopping and savoring the little things. And honestly, what sets me apart from the character in Subway Surfer at this point? Neither of us really knows what we’re chasing.

(At least, running in the game gives you coins to purchase in-game features. All I’ve gotten in real life lately is unnecessary sweat. Yep.)

Looking back, I hate that I’ve been pushing myself to run with fear just for an ordinary commuter bus. I hate that I haven’t been enjoying my mornings as they are—slow and beautiful. Let this little story be a reminder for everyone to slow things down a bit, okay? Life is beautiful, even if our routine consists of walking to the bus stop every weekday for work. There’s the subtle sound of birds chirping, the comforting morning air shared with early joggers, and the warmth of sunlight on our path—we just have to know where to look.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy A Chaotic Morning Reflection: In Feeling the Rain and Jakarta, A City of Heroes.