Traffic will never go back to the way it was

My doctor has an annoying habit.

- SHAWN MICALLEF

When I visit with an ailment or pain, looking for a cure, he will sometimes tap a little medicine bottle in his office with the word "acceptance" handwritten on it.

Whatever my problem is - aching knees from jogging, disappearing hair-he will say that it's just part of life, aging and I have to accept it, all while tapping that bottle.

It's annoying because I would rather have drugs. Powerful drugs.

Drugs to make the problem go away and to instantly feel good and young again. Acceptance, however, is really just facing reality and is a treatment Toronto could use right now to help with its traffic woes.

Everyone is talking about Toronto traffic. It's what we make incessant small talk about with acquaintances and strangers. It's even what visiting celebrities and tourists talk about. It's what politicians and other civil society groups are trying to solve.

The latter efforts have been futile so far because we've never fully faced reality. That is, accepting Toronto's traffic problems are not ever going to be cured. Not in the way we've been going about it, thinking getting around in a car will one day be easy again, a "Make Driving Great Again" fever dream as seen in car commercials.