Why We Should All Slow Down

I’m never in a rush. I used to be years ago and then it dawned on me.. Rushing causes stress and I am not a fan of stress. So .. I slowed down. However, while I can control my actions I unfortunately cannot control the actions of others.

People are always rushing.

.. They’re leaving 5 minutes late because something came up and it made them run behind

.. screeching down the road like maniacs, weaving through traffic

.. running that light that just turned red (because everyone else does it..)

.. staying in that merging lane as long as possible and then jumping over in front of the guy that has patiently waited his turn

.. not holding the door for the next person because that may cost them another 5 seconds

.. not holding the elevator for the person who’s behind them, also in a rush

You get my point. Oh wait, I’m not there yet.

Often times we are in a rush. We don’t consider anything outside of our own universe. We do all of these things because that is what it takes to get us what ‘we’ need. Do we ever think about the cost or penalties to those around us?

Sure .. sometimes the price is minor. Running that red light means the next person has to wait a few minutes longer to take their due turn. Cutting in front of the patient driver at the last second may get you cursed at or a show of the prized middle finger.

Sometimes the cost can be more than you thought.. .and may cost those around you more than you could have believed you were capable of doing.

My point before the story is that we need to learn to slow down .. and we need to learn to share the universe with other people besides ourselves, because our actions sometimes reach beyond our small circle .. and if that happens it simply may not be worth it.

I sit here, typing, with a terrible headache that I once again can’t shake. It’s the third of this magnitude since last Saturday. I have a constant ache in neck where it feels like my spine is compressed upon itself. Most of my joints hurt and the ‘good days’ are nowhere near the good days of two weeks ago. I think I’ve adjusted to the back and shoulder pains by now.

Will I heal? Sure.

Did I deserve this? Not for a second.

Why am I like this? Because someone was running late to get their hair done for a wedding.

Last Saturday started out fairly well. I taught a spinning class at the gym in the morning for a friend so she could race cyclocross up in Ohio. After that I cleaned up and headed downtown to a photowalk, where I was fortunate enough to see many friendly faces that I had not seen in quite some time. It was a series of great moments and I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

On our way back I stopped to feed the meter that my car was parked behind. Afterwards I was walking down the street to catch up with the others. I approached the intersection right as the light turned in my favor and started to cross. I walked about halfway across the front of this Ford Expedition when everything changed. The girl was staged at the light, running late, watching traffic and not once checking for pedestrian traffic. At an intersection that had about 40 people on the different corners when the cars cleared, she turned.

Into me.

I don’t remember much but I am thankful that I was able to stay on my feet through the whole ordeal but I cannot imagine the damage that would have followed if I would have fallen to the ground. I am also thankful that I am a relatively active person because I believe that it has helped me heal as well as I have.

Am I better? Sadly not close.

Why did this happen? Because someone was running late and they took chances .. and failed to realize how bad those consequences could be.

Most of the time our penalties aren’t so high .. but now she has to deal with the fact that she struck a human being with her car. I am glad I don’t have that on my conscious.

Maybe you will get lucky and never have this happen to you but my question is this …

… is running 5 minutes late worth the risks and the possible costs that she endured? Are you really willing to take that chance?

Advertisement