In her memoir Airplane Mode, author Shahnaz Habib shares her travels around the world. One of my favorite passages, though, was about her taking her local Brooklyn bus as a new parent, “Where I wanted to be was on the bus… The bus itself became my destination. A place to sit, a window to look through as the world streamed by, offering itself without demanding anything.” 

This passage came to mind to me today as I went to renew my Canadian passport just outside of downtown Toronto. I usually walk, but today I took a streetcar. I enjoyed the sights and sounds and being a part of the commute; it was a highlight of the day. It’s a pretty literal application of the saying, “The journey is the destination.”

Along the ride, I found my mind contemplating all sorts of different ideas and memories. It was very energizing from a creative perspective.

The way Shahnaz describes the bus reminds me of how streetwear fans learn to appreciate being in line.