I used the drive-through ATM today, during regular business hours, and was not at all surprised to see two other cars using the same ATMs. I wasn’t surprised because I knew the drivers must be thinking what I’m thinking: I don’t want to talk to people, especially about my money, when I can have the same service rendered me by a machine. The weather was gorgeous and there were plenty of pedestrians on the sidewalks, yet we drivers much preferred sitting in our cars to parking and getting out and carrying on conversations about the weather with strangers in line. So no, the ATM driving-through didn’t surprise me. 

Not me.

What did give me pause was the realization that, in thinking back to similar circumstances not involving banking, I do the same thing. I’d rather go through a drive-through than be with strangers. I know I’m not the only one who would rather eat in the car than in a restaurant. I suppose that since these options have been provided us, we are clearly more able to be lazy. And I don’t mean lazy in the physical sense, but in the social sense. Had I spent the energy to park my car and get myself inside the bank today, I imagine I’d be somewhat healthier now for having exposure to others. Socialization positively influences health. Now that I have options that enable isolation, I more often than not will take advantage of these. Why? Because doing so is so much less work, but brings so little benefit. 


My favorite part of the ATM drive-through is when one of the cars honked at another ahead of it. In the time spent waiting, he could probably have gone inside.