*Note: this post took place and was written before the pandemic and social distancing.

During the early morning train commute, we all look a little bleary-eyed. There’s little to no talking, and most of us just want a moment of relative quiet before beginning our work day. At one of the stops, the loud, pulsating beat of rap music boards the train, the rider sitting somewhere behind me. Some of the other commuters turn around to silently look at the rap-lover, as if trying to communicate their displeasure. No one says anything, but we are all feeling annoyed, including me.

The train is a great place to become annoyed because you are shoulder-to-shoulder with people who seem different and in many ways, are different. I study my irritation as I am blasted with rap music at 6:30am, and I see it as a response to a lack of control in this situation. My sense of entitlement to reality as I want it, not as it is, leads to frustration if I dwell on it too long rather than letting it pass through, knowing that all will change in just a few minutes when we reach Union Station.

As I stand up to disembark, I see the young rap-lover. He’s wearing a Kevlar (bullet proof) vest on the outside of his clothing. I have no idea what he is facing this day or any day, and once again I learn that the comfort of a song helps people cope with challenges I hope I never know.

Photo courtesy of ThePhotoQueue