Traffic is only annoying when you’re stuck in it, or it gets in your way. It’s like most things in life — we don’t complain about what doesn’t affect us. At least, we didn’t used to. But now, with everyone glued to social media like an IV drip of addictive chaos, suddenly, everything feels like everyone’s problem.
I’m currently staying in one of the most expensive places in Australia. Tonight, I walked to dinner at a fancy “treehouse” restaurant, passing multi-million-dollar houses, gorgeous beaches, and famous surf breaks. It’s stunning here — and overpriced. But people pay the prices, so nothing’s changing anytime soon.
On my way back, I decided to cut through a little sand path over a dune, hoping it would lead me back to where I’m staying. It didn’t. Instead, I stumbled into a cluster of tent villages. These weren’t your typical camping setups — these were long-term sites. They had one of the best views in Australia but no running water. Clothes hung to dry on makeshift lines, and no one seemed to be home. As I walked through, I found more tents scattered along hidden trails.
Last time I was here in my van, I stayed at a caravan site filled with long-term residents. It’s clear that many of these people are likely working in town. Retail, hospitality, cleaning — all the jobs that keep this place running. But with the cost of living here, they probably can’t afford to rent a place unless they’re willing to share a two-bedroom house with seven other people.
And you know what? They’re not hurting anyone. Sure, they could clean up some rubbish, but most people don’t even know they’re there. Meanwhile, the tourists hustle and bustle, fighting for restaurant tables and beers at the bar, cramming the surf lineups, and getting cranky at service. Just yesterday, I saw a guy lose it at a checkout worker because she closed her register, and his ice creams were “going to fucking melt now.”
Yesterday, I hit my own limit. Or as my friend would say, I “ran out of nice.” I got my period, and everything felt like too much for about an hour! Traffic was insane, queues for checkouts and coffee stretched endlessly, and petrol stations were a madhouse. Everyone’s on holiday, and I’m just trying to do my job, surrounded by the chaos. My timeline is tight, and the crowds add a whole new level of “for fuck’s sake” to my day. Sure, it’s summer, so days are longer, and I can shift things around, but still — it’s frustrating.
As I walked to dinner, I realised something: it’s only annoying because it’s happening in my day. These are my triggers — losing control of things I never really had control of in the first place.
That walk reminded me of something important. I used to ride my bike to work, so traffic couldn’t get in my way. I’d walk to dinner, so the chaos of the road didn’t touch me. Even though I was physically on the same path as others, I was on a completely different journey. Their destination wasn’t mine; their energy wasn’t my vibration. For years, I chose to navigate around the madness rather than through it.
And that’s the point, isn’t it? Life is messy. People will cut you off, lines will be long, and things won’t go as planned. But you have a choice. You can stay stuck in the traffic of life, complaining about what’s blocking you, or you can find another way. Ride your bike. Take the beach path. Remember that their chaos doesn’t have to become yours. You’re not going to the same place, and that’s okay.
So, take a breath, step back, and remember: we’re all just trying to get somewhere. Let’s choose to move with intention, not frustration. Let’s find our own path, and maybe — just maybe — we’ll enjoy the journey a little more.