We love fast food drive-thru windows except when they're inconvenient. This week, I debated about where I’d get the fastest service—in
the drive-thru line or inside the restaurant. I instantly regretted choosing
the left lane drive-thru because I could see the driver in the side view mirror
chattering away at the order board. I choose the wrong lane, again. Lip-reading
wasn’t helpful in deciding whether the driver was ordering a boatload of food,
asking too many menu questions, discussing some inappropriate drive-thru topic
or doing this:
Despite the lengthy request
for a short order, the service people remained professional—and they remembered
everything. Maybe this special order felt like a bright spot in the middle of a
long, boring shift. Some things are worth the wait. What behavior used to feel
like a time-waster, but now you recognize the benefit?
Has the term “binge watching” made it into the dictionary yet?
It started when we recorded and watched multiple TV shows in one sitting, then it
grew in popularity when companies made entire seasons available for non-stop
viewing. Like other addictions, binge watching creeps up on you. At first, you’re
looking for a little entertainment or a way to relax after a hectic week. Four
hours later, you’re dazed and hooked on a show, forsaking restroom breaks and
phone calls.
At our house, we’re tracking several different shows. When Netflix
gives us ten seconds to answer that judgmental question, “Are you still watching?” We say, “is that a joke?
Yes, of course!” If you’re wondering why binge watching became a thing, here’s
one excuse:
https://youtu.be/8yDh6LzScrM
Despite having hundreds of cable stations, our family had
difficulty finding anything to watch on TV, at least nothing we all enjoyed.
Now, we can’t wait to see whether Emma or Cora reach the other side, or read
what happens next in our subtitled Korean suspense show—and thanks to Netflix—we
don’t have to. Patience and waiting—are these things of the past? Is there anything
you still don’t mind waiting for?
Regardless of which side you choose, I feel both parties deserve equal representation. Why does one side receive major media attention while the other is a blip on the scene.Businesses play a major role in advancing this brand of favoritism because of where they spend their money. This isn’t about politics, it’s about beverages and society’s obvious preference for coffee over tea.
Companies actually redesign their product lines and buildings to offer a latte this and latte that rather than focusing on the green, white, chamomile, black, fruity, mint and the other delicious herbal teas. How often do you see commercials advertising tea? Not very often. Although I drink both, I tend to believe that tea is healthier than coffee since many teas contain antioxidants and assist the body in fighting everything from high blood pressure to cancer. So, given that we’re such a health conscious society, why does tea seem to play second fiddle to coffee?
Let’s consider a theory that points back to us. Don’t we reach for coffee to rev us up and put pep in our step? Coffee reflects our fast-paced lifestyle and our need for immediate gratification. We smell coffee long before we see it, its flavor is bold and robust and it gives us the quick energy jolt we seek. On the other hand, we associate tea with illness and it’s the drink of choice when we’re feeling reflective and slowing-down to savor a moment. Listen to how these people feel about tea and coffee:
Aha, see there? I imagine they went a little deeper than you expected. I think the coffee vs. tea debate is a comment on our lifestyles. We live in a don’t-make-me-wait-‘cause- I-gotta-go-out-and-get culture. Settle down, enjoy a cup of tea. They say good things come to those who wait, I say anticipation is part of the journey. Tell us, who or what are you waiting for?
