Today, I found myself in an unlikely place during the workday – a doctor’s waiting room. It was a place where time seemed to stretch out endlessly, where the ordinary met the extraordinary, and where I discovered a moment of calm amidst the chaos of life.
As I walked into the waiting room, the first thing that struck me was its peculiar sense of timelessness. The decor seemed to belong to another era, reminiscent of the 70s, with shades of tan that, by today’s standards, would be considered outdated and unattractive. Two framed displays of sailors’ knots adorned the walls, a nod to the office’s unique location on a dock by the water.
The room was empty, except for me and the ever-present background music from the radio, playing softly. I took a seat and watched the world outside move at a leisurely pace. Through the window, I could see the water, and just across from it, a nondescript industrial building. Occasionally, plumes of flame would rise from one of the exhaust stacks, a rhythmic dance of industry against the backdrop of nature.
As I sat there, I became an observer of life’s subtle moments. Sea birds caught my attention – their lives unfolded in front of me. They fought for territory, they soared against the wind, and they effortlessly glided through the sky. It made me wonder: Do they ever wait for anything as I’m doing? Do they play? Do they worry? Or is it just us, the human race, that’s endlessly preoccupied with waiting for something more?
In the rush of daily life, we often hear the advice to “get out of our critter brain.” Yet, as I observed the seabirds, I couldn’t help but admire how gracefully they lived. They seemed to be doing just fine without the constant striving and waiting that often fills our human existence.
As minutes turned into moments, I made a conscious decision not to reach for my phone. Instead, I embraced the boredom, immersing myself in the simplicity of the waiting room. The seemingly ugly decor began to feel cozy, and the gentle hum of the radio became a comforting companion. It was in that stillness that I discovered a sense of warmth and peace.
No longer was I waiting; I was living in the present, observing the world as it passed me by. The waiting room, once a symbol of impatience, became a sanctuary of calm. In the quietude, I found serenity.
In a world that constantly urges us to move faster, achieve more, and always be on the go, sometimes it’s in the moments of stillness that we discover the beauty of simply being. It’s a reminder that amid the hustle and bustle, we can find tranquility in the most unexpected of places – even in a 70s-themed doctor’s waiting room by the water.
-Ryan
