The past 3 months, I’ve been taking MARTA each day to and from work. One hour there, one hour back, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks = 120 hours on MARTA. Though I cringe at the thought of what else could have been done with those hours and now thankfully have a car for the last month of this co-op semester so I don’t have to walk in the brisk cold of the winter season, I have learned a lot on MARTA. I would encourage anyone who lives within the metro Atlanta area to give this a read, and if your home and office are close to MARTA stops, give it a try.

· Despite popular belief, MARTA is not some dated, scary, source of transportation that one should avoid at all costs.

· Conversely, it is a clean, timely, economical, and overall underrated way to get from point A to point B.

· Having a car is a privilege that not everyone can afford.

· 10 minute walks before and after work to/from the bus stops are good for the heart and mind

· You may think you’re having the worst day ever, but I guarantee someone else out there has much more difficult circumstances; be thankful for what you have.

· Friendships blossom in the most unexpected places

· Chivalry is not dead.

· However, there remain some who will never offer his or her seat to an elderly woman; don’t be that guy.

· People might judge you for what you’re wearing (i.e. flip flops with dress pants), but they don’t know anything about you and frankly don’t matter.

· Many Atlantans work tirelessly to get to and from a minimum wage job to sustain their family or get an education.

· Atlanta is incredibly diverse, and each and every race or ethnicity works just as hard as the next.

· You can save $9,253 a year by using public transportation in place of a car (http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/03/october-transit-savings-public-transportation-vs-driving-car/).

· It’s not the end of the world if you miss that bus. I promise. This also applies to catching that light, being 5 minutes late to that meeting, getting slowed down by a conversation with a neighbor, etc. It will be okay.

· Reading is good. Read more.

· Sunrises are beautiful. And they happen every single morning! Go to bed early and catch one tomorrow.

· Smile instead of being annoyed – the baby screaming next to you is actually kind of cute, and the guy humming across the bus has beautiful pitch (or might be comically off).

· Stop the bus for the guy running to catch it; the little favors go a long way.

· Rain won’t kill you.

· Sometimes comfort must come before style.

· That guy who looks scary? Yeah, most likely he’s not. Be nice.

· People actually do use food stamps. Be thankful you don’t need to.

· There is virtually no preaching, advertising, vandalizing, soliciting, smoking, littering, drinking, etc. etc. on MARTA. It’s actually a very clean, well-maintained metro.

· Do what you need to in order to succeed. There’s always a way.

Save money. Save time. Save your body from the elevated blood pressure due to the stress of traffic. Save a man’s spirits one day by smiling and having early-morning conversation. Save Atlanta from being a commuter city. Save the environment. Save yourself from taking things for granted. Save yourself from prejudice. Open your heart and grow mind.

Just find your reason, and take MARTA.