My commute to work includes going through a small town.

Most of the time, driving through the old downtown is faster. The speed limit is 25 and you cross the railroad tracks in the center of Town, but it gets you back on the main road without going around the town. For my commute, it saves me several minutes, which is time I lose if I get behind a tractor on the narrow winding back roads I travel to work.

Yet, when a train rumbles through town, you can sit at that crossing for what seems like an eternity.

So, as much as I enjoy the short, slow ride through downtown, I seldom take it. When I do, I get to step back into time and imagine people 100 years ago coming to town to take care of their business. Many of the shops have been repurposed, but there is still that hometown Americana feeling.

Today, it is all about getting where you are going on-time. Staying on track (no pun intended), I need to focus on arriving at work on time. Yet I want to live in the moment. Am I being naive to think I can always be in the moment? Perhaps, but that is my goal. And if that is a lofty goal, I still want to shoot for that.

READ MORE: I don’t always see it, but I do have a choice

But there are times when being in the moment is critical.

Spending time with family comes to mind. Hearing what someone s saying, validating that and having a meaningful conversation is a new skill I am working on. My old method of waiting until someone takes a breath and then pushing my agenda on them is a thing of the past.

Or at least I am aware that I do that and am taking steps to live more in the moment and not push things only I want.

Today, I was rewarded for taking the long way. My commute was on track (no pun intended) and going the long way was shorter. Making the conscious decision to take a specific path paid off. Often these decisions are made, and I do not see confirmation that the choice I made mattered.

But today, riding under the long, long train as it rumbled slowly over the bridge, I knew my decision to take the long was the right one.

Do you ever take the long way to save time?

My Concealed Depression is written under the alias “Depression is not my boss.” I have certifications in SMART Recovery and am a Global Career Development Facilitator.

Last year, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.

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