The express and the local
Express trains run less often, make fewer stops, and if they’re going where you’re going, get you there faster.
The local train is, of course, the opposite.
Some people hop on the first train that comes. A local in the hand is worth the extra time, they say, because you’re never quite sure when the express is going to get there.
On the other hand, there’s a cost to investing in the thing that pays off in the long run.
Now that you see that, you’re probably going to notice it in 100 areas of your life.
The local requires less commitment, feels less risky, doesn’t demand a point of view. The express, on the other hand, always looks like a better idea after you’ve embraced it and gotten to where you meant to go.
Express or local?
Comments:
Though I like his visual, doesn’t align with my memories of riding local commuter trains in Chicago. Many days, you finished work after the express trains were done running and had no option. “Commitments to the project” kept you past the opportunity to get on the express. Your only option was a local, stopping at each station. Personal risks were larger that you’ld be mugged on or waiting for the local. We had more stops in some of the less desirable southside neighborhood than with the express trains. If you’re in the right place at the right time, jump on the express.