Ima Richards: Traffic Tension Therapy

People have their own way or relieving tension! Some go on a shopping spree, eating spree and whatever other spree they want to embark on, just to ease the tension; but when you’re caught up in traffic in Lagos, what kind of spree would you embark on to ease the tension? People have various unconventional ways. I got to witness one of these unconventional ways in traffic, here’s the low down.

You know the bumper to bumper kind of traffic we have on 3rd mainland bridge after the close of work; people on the Island are going home to the Mainland. Motorists tooting car horns all over the place, moving at the slightest shift of the car ahead, looking for any available opening that would keep them moving forward. They’re driving with stern faces, as if they could will the traffic to move with mind control, how they wish that could happen.

Anyway, my dear friend, Dipo was caught up in this notorious traffic jam and was already tensed up, having been in one place for over one hour coupled with his hectic day in the office. He was already complaining and was holding on to the steering wheel as if he wanted to actually pull it out. The next thing I know, he sighed loudly, raised the volume of the radio, jumped out of the car, took off his jacket, dumped it in the back seat and started dancing to an upbeat song playing on the radio.

Someone shouted, “Ha! Ele yin ti ya we re oh! Abi won ti te le yin de bi?” (Translation: this one has gone crazy! Or have they followed you to this place?). Forget it oh, my guy just continued dancing; displaying all sorts of dance steps to the amusement, admiration and confusion of everyone else. Not long after, a well-dressed lady walked close to him, observed him for a while and she joined in, displaying her own scintillating moves. It became a free for all viewing center as people cheered, applauded, laughed and even dished out some moves of their own.

Everyone was so caught up with the show that nobody really noticed that the traffic had eased up. The 3rd mainland bridge traffic dance hall crew; dancers and spectators alike, didn’t hide their disappointment as they went back to their cars; all tension gone.

“That was truly exhilarating!” said Dipo as he got into the car. Laughing, I said, “It was quite interesting watching you but why did you do that anyway?” “My sister, it’s either dance therapy or you would see smoke coming out of my ears today,” he said. My dear friend, Dipo had to ease the tension by dancing it away and it did him a whole lot of good.

Gotcha! You think this actually happened? Not at all. It’s just a figment of my imagination and I am sure it got you thinking about how you can be relaxed in the midst of heavy traffic.
Tell us what you would do to relax in traffic!

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Ammentorp