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Here’s my ‘crash course’ on life
Published Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Call it ESP if you will, but I knew just as soon as those back break lights of the silver Grand Marquis lit up what was going to happen.
I had pulled up to the stop sign at the BP at the corner of Three Notch and was patiently waiting for the car in front of me to make their way through traffic.
The driver — everyone’s visual version of a grandmother — had decided to try her luck at shooting across the lanes and pulled out halfway into the road. She stopped and looked at her rearview mirror; I knew that was the exact moment she made up her mind to back away from the traffic.
And there wasn’t enough time for my brain to tell my hand to hit the horn before the impact.
Bam!
The lady was quite shaken as she made her way out the car, apologizing all the while. With a quick look at her back bumper and my front, I pronounced all was well on my front; however, her end looked a little ragged. She promptly told me that was already there. Wouldn’t you guess it? A repeat offender.
Driving the short distance from the crash site to the office, I was reminded of the similarities in life — sometimes we see it coming at us fast, and there’s not enough time to react before it’s over. You just have to sit back and wait out the ride.
Oftentimes we all need to be reminded that while the big man upstairs is acting as the air traffic controller of our lives, we’re still the one in the driver seat. It’s up to us to live life to the best of our abilities.
First and foremost, I think the key to living a better life is we should all accept our mistakes. Hey, we’re all human.
The easiest — and perhaps the hardest — thing is to forgive ourselves. Accept the wrongdoing and let it go. You can’t punish yourself forever.
Secondly, I think we should learn to take risks in life. The safest road is just that — the safest. You’ll never achieve your dreams to the fullest if you don’t take a risk now and then and don’t be afraid to start again.
Most importantly, find reasons to love your life. Sometimes life isn’t fair. It deals us crappy hands and leaves you wondering what in the world ...
And lastly, remember the ultimate goal is to be able to say, “No regrets.”
I know I’ve told this before, but for those who haven’t heard it — when my grandmother passed, she requested a bench to be installed at the cemetery inscribed with these words, “I didn’t miss a damn thing.”
It may not be as concise as “No regrets” but there’s no misinterpreting the meaning, and after my little “run in” Tuesday, I realized quickly three things: I love and am loved; I’m healthy, and I’m doing my utmost best not to miss a damn thing.
So far, I’m doing OK; and when I get down on myself, I forgive myself and start again.
Comments
Posted by rgodwin (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 6:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stephanie, that was a great post and I enjoyed your thoughts. You grandmother must have been quite a character.
Posted by bamafootball (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I didn't miss a damm thing" I LOVE IT!!!
Posted by swswilliam (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her grandmother was one of the sassiest, smartest, and strongest women I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Nice article, Stephanie!
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for sharing your story and insight. Your Grandma's request brought a tear to my eye. :)
Regarding destiny or happenstance, I'll stick with quote Forest made to Jennny at the end of the movie Forest Gump.
"I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time"
Although a fictional character, I think Forest is one that didn't miss a damn thing either. If only you and I could be so lucky or destined, either way you see it...
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lol this was a great article. I especially liked the part "I dindn't miss a damn thing."
Posted by outlaw11 (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article, Steph...and glad your car wasn't hurt.
Posted by hometown_girl (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was a great post and I enjoyed reading it!
Posted by 1975 (anonymous) on October 8, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please--' brake ' lights. Proofread?
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on October 8, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1975-
Can't you give someone a "brake"?
Why do we have "two" have the same sounding word spelled differently?
Consider the following refrain? :)
When the lights came on, I knew it was "break" time, so instead of slowing down, I simply ate my morning snack. Next thing I knew my snack was no longer cheese crackers, but a "whopper" with cheese. Then I realized that I had mispelled a word in my slow endothermic reaction. Their I was with them and there faults. Certainly they're with none of my own, because the proper lite was simply spelled incorrectly. F7 wood not work because my spell checkers did not know I was try to spell chess!
Posted by outlaw11 (anonymous) on October 8, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
purelogic: sound like a teacher, why not put in an app at the starnews since you think you have more sense and education that "our girl"...then we could read your, ever so boring comments about anything...oh, by the way, if you play chess, call me- you buy the beer- I lose-I pay---leave our girl alone you a--h---.
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on October 9, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Outlaw11,
I think you misunderstood me. I was cracking at 1975 for being so nit picky on the spellings.
I'm sure if you read some of my posts, you'll find plenty of typos on my part, as I am by no means perfect.
As stated in my earlier post, I really enjoyed Stephanie's article and complimented her on an a great story an insight.
Sometimes reading other people by reading is harder to do on-line than off-line.
Hope we cleared that right up. :)
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on October 9, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've probably been called worse names by the way. Some deserving and some like this one, undeserving.
Sorry you find my comments boring. Maybe I better not apply at the Star News after all... :(
Hope your day is good. :)
Posted by MsGRITS (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya'll are missin' the whole or hole or whatever, POINT. Cute story, I think I'll do something worthwhile today.....
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