Journeying through Life
There are times when life is very obviously a journey. There is a sense of a starting point and a destination, of progress and movement, of change and new horizons. Conversely, there are times of “stuckness”, of “being in a rut”, of not travelling or at least not as fast as we would like.
We were talking about this idea the other week in regard to work-home balance and how to maintain a sense of equilibrium in our lives. If you imagine life as a journey along a motorway – we tend to think of the M4 from London to Bristol – then there are times when we are travelling in the outside fast lane. It’s exhilarating and we’re making good progress. But on the other hand, we don’t see much of the scenery while we concentrate on the vehicles around us and especially those coming up at speed behind us, flashing lights to get us out of their way. We are using much more fuel and mental energy to keep our distance from the car in front and anticipate other drivers’ actions.
I have a self-imposed rule of taking a break from driving every two hours or so. I know that thirty minutes at Reading services means I lose out on another 30 or 40 miles towards our destination. But actually I feel better and I think drive better after a proper break – and of course caffeine! What could seem a loss is actually an investment to keep me travelling along the road safely.
If we drive on regardless and at speed, we may end up on the hard shoulder, broken down and having to wait for some emergency service to “save” us. Ignoring or forgetting to service the car can result in hours waiting on the side of the road for the AA or RAC to turn up. That “service” of going on a short holiday, a weekend away without ‘work’ or even deciding to attend a learning/training course may ensure we travel with more surety and confidence once we’re back on the road. Even the fastest drivers need to head for the pit-stop if they are to finish the race.
The safe slow option in the inside lane can be appropriate depending on what we’re driving and where. I once drove a van with an over-loaded trailer of pipes and if I drove more than 30 miles an hour the trailer started weaving all over the road. {I ended up off-loading the pipes in the middle of the night at a convenient storage yard.} More usually, the problem I face driving in the inside lane of a motorway is getting stuck behind an even slower moving lorry or having to frequently move into the middle lane at each junction for joining traffic. It can be frustrating and require more manoeuvring and switching lanes. But the scenery is better enjoyed.
So I guess I’m a middle lane driver, without sticking there regardless of traffic conditions. At times I do need to drive fast; at times I need to go off at the services; and at times I need to make sure I book in for maintenance and an MOT.
Enjoy the journey!
