Share the Road

It was 5:45 am. I was enjoying my morning pot of herbal tea while reading a book when I heard the unmistakable sound and I knew that my morning was going to be eventful.

My beloved and I choose to install a steel roof when we built our home. I have learned to distinguish the different sounds that are amplified by this type of roof–from a scurrying squirrel, to the rubbing stroke of a branch, to the pattering of rain.

As I quickly readied myself for work, I said a silent prayer to my beloved who left a half hour earlier. Freezing rain and blowing winds can be dreadful to safely maneuver in a vehicle.

With four-wheel drive engaged, it didn’t take long before I caught up to a long trail of vehicles behind one exceptionally slow car. Just as the rain pellets were colliding upon my windshield, various divergent thoughts created havoc in my head.

“Cars travelling too slow are more dangerous than speeding cars.”

“Drive slow: It’s better to arrive safe than sorry.”

“If you can’t drive in this weather you should have stayed home!”

“Patience is a virtue”

“Oh my. Where did these random thoughts come from,” I asked myself. I took a few deep breaths, eased off the accelerator and chose to become mindful. Do a few extra minutes on the road really matter? What am I in such a hurry to do? And why is every thought of reprimand for the slow driver met with one of understanding? I had no reasonable response except that apparently my past behaviour of going faster to go farther is at odds with my new desire for balance and mindfulness.

Article originally published in Volume 10-2 of Your Workplace magazine