In Fort Collins, the trains don’t sneak through town. They announce themselves. Loud horns, squealing wheels, and the kind of rumble you feel in your chest. If you’re downtown, you don’t just notice the train, you experience it. Conversation halts, laughter pauses, hands fly up to ears. Eight, maybe ten times a day, the city surrenders to the mass of metal on Mason Street.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, trains are irritating. They interrupt. They divide. They force us to wait. But on writing last week’s train reflection I started wondering, what’s the upside? Surely there’s something redeemable here. And with a little curiosity with a dash of humor, I began to see a few possibilities.
Upside #1: Built-In Conversation Pauses
Ever find yourself in a dull conversation? No problem. When the train rolls through, you get a 90-second reset. Just nod, sip your coffee, and wait for the last car.
Upside #2: Instant Community
There’s something oddly uniting about a patio full of strangers grimacing together, all holding their ears. For those 30 seconds, we’re not Democrats or Republicans, locals or tourists, we’re just humans enduring the same racket.
Upside #3: Patience Training
Stuck at the crossing with the gates down? You’re not late, you’re in class. It’s called “Patience 101,” and no charge for this class, compliments of BNSF and Union Pacific.
Upside #4: A Reminder of Scale
Trains are massive, unstoppable, and loud. They remind me that I’m small, and that the world doesn’t revolve around me. Humbling, yes. Annoying, absolutely. But maybe necessary.
So maybe the upside of trains is this: they remind me to laugh, to connect, to breathe, and to remember I’m not in charge of everything. Irritation is real, but so is the invitation hidden inside.
Reflection Question:
What’s an “irritation train” in your life right now, and can you spot even one hidden upside in it?