Construct
There is construction happening all around me. ‘Tis the season as they say. In the moment, the cacophony of noises coupled with the obstruction of traffic is enough to test the patience of a saint.
Yet as annoyed as we may be, imagine the construction worker toiling long hours during the hottest and muggiest time of the year.
Last week, as I was driving to City College, I came upon a street that has been perpetually under construction for as long as I can remember making this commute. Massive metal trench plates covered holes in the road causing rumbling that tested the shocks on my car. As I passed one worker holding a flag intended to direct traffic, I came upon the second holding a stop sign.
He approached my car asking if I had seen the first flagger. I sensed I was in trouble and said, “No sorry, did I miss something?” He smiled and responded, “No man, you’re doing great. I just wanted to tell you to have an awesome day.” Reflexively, I told him “He was doing great too and thanks for being so positive.” Matter of factly he replied, “What other choice do you have?” We fist bumped and went about the rest of our day - not before I noticed in my rearview mirror that he was starting a similarly wonderful exchange with the driver behind me.
The word construction can conjure a knee-jerk negative response. But the root word, “construct” means simply “to build or create.”
Everyday we are building or creating something. Perhaps, the easiest of these is connection.
As I went about my day, his words had worn off. I did not feel as if “was doing great.” Various things had gone a little south and my day ended with a thud. Lying in bed before I drifted off to sleep, I recounted my day as I often do and remembered his kind and jovial words. This small act had in fact, constructed a lasting memory, created inspiration for this post and all in all made a good day.
You are doing great. We are always building or creating something - a life, a day, a moment. Doing so with joy or positivity isn’t always easy - especially in hot or noisy conditions both of the literal and metaphorical kind. Yet it is still a choice available to us.
This Week’s Recommendation: This morning, I finished Dave Eggers’ new novel, Contrapposto. It’s a story of friendship, love, and most of all art. He writes perceptively and challenges us to consider what makes art and a good life. Highly recommend.
Share this with someone who is constructing something in a way you admire.