Today I had to mail some packages last minute for the holiday’s. I decided to get to the post office between the early morning rush and lunch thinking that perhaps I would be able to get in and out and move on with what I had to do. Naturally when I arrived at 10:10 am there was an enormous line at the post office. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised but needless to say I wasn’t ecstatic to be waiting in such a line. I added myself to the end, set my packages down and began my wait. Of course I was forced into conversation with my fellow waiters, but after the classic pleasantries of conversation where finished I was left with my slowly moving packages and my thoughts. While waiting I came to the conclusion that this sort of act was more “Zen” than I predicted.
I feel that the most successful waiter would be mastered at the art of being perfectly patient, and always in control of emotions; never getting to anxious, flustered, angered or moody. They have the ability to stand at grace without becoming tired or exasperated . As I waited I tried to embody this type of “Zen” and to my surprise I found no difficulty in doing so. I thought about a number of things while I waited, like a women a met last year while dealing with the holiday post office line. She was an interesting lady to say the least. She had a neon orange jacket, a bright green Grinch hat on, what looked like a knitted mo-mo made sometime in the mid 60’s and stirrup spandex. She finished her look off with neon rainbows peace earrings and a giant gold peace sign pendant. She was at least in her mid 50’s to 60’s. I can’t remember what we talked about I remember her as a spunky, opinionated individual. I can’t say for sure if she had mastered the “Zen” of post office waiting but she definitely made a mark on me.
As my thoughts continued I realized that I was actually very relaxed. I suppose what this past semester has been, anything simple like waiting in a line would be a saving grace. I still found myself to be surprised at how relaxing it was. Simply left to my thoughts standing as a Buddhist monk thinking about nothing and everything. I came to the front of line faster than I thought I would and though I can’t say I was sad to be leaving this moment I feel it has made just another mark on my history. It was not just another line waited in but a moment of peace. Who would have thought that a moment of peace would be found in a post office on the busiest day of the year, surrounded by flustered anxious people.
