Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Two weeks ago was the first time in my life I have been able to read on a train (or a plane or a car or anything moving). After a recent visit to the eye doctor, I got new glasses (I've never worn glasses except for maybe two days when I was twelve). I thought I'd give them a try on the train. I pulled out a book, read a page and was delighted to find that I was not nauseated. This is a whole new world to me! I'm like one of those regular people who reads a book while on a long journey. I was so excited that I forgot all about the hidden benefits of not being able to read on a train (or plane or in a car). Usually when you have several hours with nothing to do, you think of a way to occupy yourself. Reading is obviously a big one. Working on the computer is another. Watching movies is another. These all rely on vision and I couldn't do any of them while traveling (until two weeks ago of course). I had to come to terms with simply relaxing or interacting with a fellow human being who happened to be seated next to me (how terrible!). Listening to music or sleeping is of course an option for the easily nauseated. I didn't realize that this is actually one of those "blessing in disguise" types of things. When you have a bunch of time, you think "fill it!" or "occupy thyself with something useful!". Yet it is quite refreshing to just relax for a few hours and not "do" anything. For some, it's a rare opportunity. This is something I realized while practicing savasana (the laying down doing nothing pose a the end of a yoga class). At first you think, "I'm not doing anything; what's the point?" and then you think, "This is awesome; I can just relax and I don't even have to think, yet I'm not sleeping." A train ride without reading is kind of like a really long savasana. So now that I have joined the reading-able, I'm not sure if I even want to take advantage of my new skill. I may keep traveling time "activity free".