Slow & Steady Wins the Race.

You know all of those times you're driving along, minding your own business, and another driver zooms by, weaving in & out of traffic? You think to yourself, "What on Earth could be so important that s/he need to drive so erratically?" And you know that feeling of personal satisfaction & smugness, when minutes later they're sitting at the same stop light as you...for the 3rd time in a row? Times like that remind me of a quote taken from The Shawshank Redemption, when Boone (an inmate) is released on parole after serving 50 years of a life sentence. He writes to his former inmates, "I saw an automobile once when I was a kid, but now, they're everywhere. The world went & got itself in a big hurry."

It's so true. Everyone is in such a hurry. I constantly catch myself hurrying my kids...

"Hurry, get your shoes on." as we're preparing to go grocery shopping. It's not like the store won't be there if they take their time.

"Hurry, get your coat on." as we're preparing to go outside to play...it's not like the neighborhood kids will leave if they took their time...(too bad).

"Hurry, finish your dinner." because cold food can't be reheated.

And for what? To save that extra minute or 2? It puts such added pressure to their lives, and mine for that matter.

This morning I was able to leave the house a whole 10 minutes earlier than usual since the kids are on break. I took my time getting things ready, including Jadyn. We even had a little time to goof off before we left. It was a great feeling...NOT being in a rush. The feeling was short lived however, as after I dropped Jadyn off at preschool I was "trapped" in traffic behind a car who thought today would be a good day to go 30 mph in a 45 mph zone.

I drove behind this car for 90% of my morning commute...slowly losing my sanity & patience with each passing minute. I though time & time again about honking, yet was somehow able to maintain my control and keep my hands (albeit tightly) on the wheel and not on the horn. With about 5 miles left until I reached work, the car made a turn and I was able to resume the designated speed limit. The reason for my story? Even though I was SO ANGRY that I was being forced to go a whole 15 miles below the speed limit this morning, I still made it to work 5 minutes before usual.

Sometimes we just need an elderly reminder to "slow down." Things really do work out, and the morale of that old tale of the Tortoise & the Hare....you know, "Slow & Steady Wins the Race." is true after all.