Just Another Car on The Road: Every Car For Itself
Today, while driving, traffic was particularly heavy. The onramps were clustered, the offramps stalled, and moving between lanes was such a challenge that it seemed futile. The driving culture this morning had adopted an “every car for itself” tone. One car would cut off another; there was brake checking, windshield wiper fluid being sprayed, bumper riding, and gestures that, from my perspective, were not friendly at all. Not only was the ride slow due to the traffic, but it was also tense and confrontational, with each car doing its own thing. Sharing the road was off the table, and offering a passthrough simply wasn’t happening. You could see the urgency in every vehicle’s movements, as if each one was saying, “I have somewhere to be, and I won’t let you slow me down.” But as it was, I was still trekking toward my destination.
Isn’t that just like life? There are days when you wake up hoping for an easy glide through your day, only to find it muddled with a traffic jam of challenges. When you try to keep to yourself, confrontations arise; when you try to walk away, blockers appear, preventing you from leaving; when you try to change the subject, you’re bombarded with someone else’s urgencies. At the end of the day, you just need to get done what you need to get done. But how do you make that happen? My suggestion: change the culture.
Well, I’m letting these cars cut in front of me, so I need to get out of here. This is Ralph, and I am just another car on the road.