Anyone who has commuted in a car knows the feeling. Merging lanes. The balance between waiting patiently or trying to make a last minute cut-in. In the city, these are generally an afterthought. A few moments lost due to some summer construction. But those who make a regular pilgrimage to the northern buffers of our city have seen these waits turn into significant portions of our day. As someone who pays the mortgage from an office in 905, it is a bi-daily affliction. Specifically, my route takes me through the Allen and Eglinton intersection, or what I am sure is what Dante meant by his Fifth Circle of Hell. The line, at all times of day, could be as long as 3 blocks.

Recently, as I was taking my sister to the boundaries of the GTA, I had taken this such causeway. I implemented my usual strategy, namely, look for a large truck or someone texting and stealthily swoop in significantly closer to the ramp. This prompted my passenger, and resident Jiminy Cricket, to refer to me as “that guy.” I was prompted to take a new approach.

The following week, I waited at the back of line. It was sheer torture. For the first three days I sat, banging my head off the steering wheel, while droves of yester-me’s cut in front of the line like the grade-school bully looking for seconds of Jell-o. I was infuriated. I was nervous. I was a mess.

Then I decided to change perspective. This is time that could be used. I started leaving 15 mins earlier and added a few things to do. I scheduled 2 or 3 phone calls for this time and reserved the spot of those albums I wanted to listen to but had neglected (sidebar: Foster The People’s Torches has been in my heavy rotation ever since). All of a sudden, it wasn’t so bad. I even found myself letting in the occasional line-cutter.

This is hardly ground breaking stuff. It isn’t a grand revelation (don’t come to expect those from this space.) But what I found was a little less stress and no agitation, when I arrived at my destination. With todays lifestyles being what they are, I think it can be agreed upon that wherever you are can alleviate even the smallest portion of that burden, it is almost owed. From time to time, I still do find myself cutting in. However, I have come to realize, that with the smallest effort in planning, even line-ups aren’t so bad.