Rush. Hurry. Urgent. And a couple hundred other words to tell us to get moving. The dictionary is full of them, and so are each one of us. But why do we seem to be in such a hurry?

When I was a young man at my first out-of-college job at The Des Moines Register, I would debate whether to take I-235 or Grand Avenue to work each morning from my apartment in West Des Moines. That was like debating between a punch in the face or a kick in the face. Neither was appealing. And neither was predictable. But what was predicable was that I would wait till the last minute to leave for work and then drive in a panic to avoid being late. It wasn’t a nice way to start the day. I eventually learned, if I left for work 30 minutes earlier, I could avoid the traffic, get to work with a smile on my face, and actually get a head start on my tasks. What a concept.

I remember the same debate and stress on the way home from work, and cranking out a Red Hot Chili Peppers CD on my car stereo likely didn’t lessen my stress levels. As a young, single guy in an apartment in the early 1990s, what was I in a hurry for? To play a game of darts with my roommates? To get to 7 Flags for a workout? To join friends at Clive After Five?

Many years later, when I first became acquainted with now-CITYVIEW columnist Joe Weeg, we met at our office in Des Moines. I joined him in the conference room with my yellow pad and a pen. He immediately started laughing. “I remember rushing from one meeting to another, taking notes on those yellow pads,” he told me. The retired Polk County prosecutor then said, “Now all I rush for is another cup of coffee.”

Retirement certainly helps many people avoid being in a hurry — but not everyone. I am convinced that some people simply choose to be in hurry. Always.

A Georgian proverb says, “He who is in a hurry always arrives late.” The Sith are not the only ones who apparently deal in absolutes. Regardless, there is a simple truth in that Georgian message. There is also a simple solution.

Start earlier.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

CITYVIEW announced its 2022 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Feb.1. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Electrician
1. Lux Electric
2. Empire Power & Controls
3. Baker Electric

Meet Michele Simpson

Instructional coach provides support for teachers.

Michele Simpson has taught at Four Mile Elementary School for her entire career of 31 years and says it has been a rewarding experience.

After growing up in the Des Moines area, Simpson pursued a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in special education at Iowa State University in order to stay close to her family. She began her first teaching job in special education for six years before teaching fourth grade for a year and third grade for 18 years. While finishing her master’s degree from Drake University, the Southeast Polk Community School District was looking to add instructional coaches through the TLC Grant, and Simpson was hired in that role for Four Mile Elementary School.

“Southeast Polk has a great community feel and reputation. I believe they truly care about their staff and students. They provide opportunities for professional development and personal growth,” Simpson says.

From March Altoona Living magazine

Happy Birthday Nick Noah!

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn Decker, Claire Danes, Jennifer Morrison, Shannen Doherty, Matt McGorry, Andy Garcia, Ed O'Neill, David Letterman, Tom Clancy, Brendon Urie, Ilana Glazer, Nicholas Brendon, Christina Moore, Paul Rust

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to:tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com