I almost didn't make it to work today

I have decided that in life, we must constantly be on our guard.

When I was growing up, my mother taught me to be the best that I can be. She instilled within me the desire to strive to do what is right. Even in school, I rarely got into trouble for anything. I followed all of the rules because I thought that if I did what I was supposed to do, things would be easier for me.

What my mother forgot to tell me was that, even for people who do the right things, trouble comes. Life doesn't become more difficult because of that person's actions, but rather the actions of those around him or her who are living carelessly.

I experienced a good example of this very idea this morning while I was on my way to work. As I backed my vehicle out of my driveway, I could see that the fog had settled heavily on the highway. I approached the highway intersection very cautiously, double checking that I had remembered to turn on my headlights, so that I would be seen by other cars easier.

As I began pulling out onto the highway, I caught a glimpse of headlights topping the hill a little way down the road behind me. I did not panic since I was already on the highway when I saw the lights, I knew that I had plenty of time. However, I did not plan on the vehicle, which was sharing my lane, to be driving way over the speed limit in such a dense fog.

Even though the speed limit is 65 on the highway, I was barely driving 50 because I could not see even one car length in front of me. Apparently, the vehicle behind me also was unable to see very far ahead of her. With the extremely high speed she was driving, her inability to see very far and my decreased speed, by the time she did see me, she was right on my tail. It was too late for her to slow down, there was no time to do so safely. Thank goodness this other driver was able to swerve to the shoulder and miss ramming into the back end of my vehicle.

Though I am thankful that the catastrophe was averted, I am still a little miffed that the other driver was being so careless. Since I had my children with me a the time, the other driver's carelessness could have endangered them as well as me.

It frustrates me to know that no matter how cautious I am in life, I cannot control the fact that the carelessness of others can impact my life as well.

In addition, I have come to the full realization that my actions can also have an effect on those around me. This very thought makes me want to be extra careful with my actions. I do not want to accidentally harm someone else because of my carelessness.

I wonder if we really stopped to consider those who are close to us before we make decisions, if that would affect the choices that we make on a daily basis.