Learning To Drive Again

I took several trips outside New York State this past summer.

Even if I had not seen the signs indicating the name of the state, I would have known that we were far from the New York metopolitan area. How?

By the way people drove. They actually drove at the speed limit! People allowed others to change lanes, slowed down to permit cars to enter the highways and, on local roads, stopped for pedestrians crossing the street.

These observations inspired a metaphorical driving lesson for me.

I realized that we all can learn how to drive and not to feel driven. We may believe that life is "hectic" (a descriptor that I hear repeatedly from people) and that we have no control over its pace. Yet, like the out-of-town drivers, we too can learn how to stay within our own speed limits.

We can ask ourselves: "Do I need to make that extra stop on the way home?" "Do I have to bake that cake on Erev Shabbos?" "Do the children need a bath every night?"

By taking shortcuts and giving ourselves permission to deviate from a self-imposed standard, we can reduce stress and improve our moods.

So, don't wait to get a ticket. Slow down and enjoy the trip.