Reflection

“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”

– Albert Einstein

When I read that I realized the truth of it and worked on staying the power of common sense at bay. It has not worked, most of the time, but it works in some things that I attempt to do.

I decided to cut down on the hours I put in at my day job. It seemed like a hair brained idea and not very practical.  It still does in many ways.

Talking to my Boss, she thought the same thing.  That is when I realized that I had to do it. She even used those words,  ‘common sense’ dictated that I not do this.

I realized that if I was younger and in my teen years, I would not have thought twice about cutting my hours at work to do something I would prefer to do.

So, here I am with half the hours at work and half my salary but the other half I spend writing.

 

Stop and smell the roses is an overused expression but a true one to apply to daily life.

 

Slow down is a cliche that most have exhausted and yet it does apply to our daily life.

 

Taking time for yourself, slowing down, quiet time, all those expressions should be used and applied.

 

When we slow down, we have an opportunity to look into ourselves.

It is a chance to look in the mirror and reflect on who we are and what we affect around us.  Positive or negative, it is a time of honesty and reflection.

 

Chances are if you are too busy, you do not realize what others see in you.  Chances are if you are always on the go, you do not anchor long enough to answer for some of your deeds.

 

Staying busy is the way out of improvement and growth.  On the go, is the easiest way out.  Busy, busy, much to do will squash any hope of reflection or thought.  It is a rather good excuse that no one could fault or hold against a person.

 

A quiet time gives us the opportunity to relax the hold life has on us.  A time out of our chores allows us to see what is truly good and solid.  Slowing down gives us the opportunity to recognize the gift of life as it were.

 

 

My husband is very calm and steady.  He is courteous, kind and giving.  He does not clamour to be first, does not demand or push other people to get what he wants.

I find him patient and forgiving.  I also find him attentive and quick to respond.

My husband gives way most of the time.  He does not care if someone is ahead of him.  He allows them to get ahead and further.

I learned all this about my husband from watching him drive.

I have been the passenger for the last five years and it has given me the opportunity to watch and learn about him and others around us.

My husband always gives himsefl enough time to be where he needs to be.  He makes an effort to wake up earlier, get there sooner and be on time in general.

He is not in a rush.  He drives the speed limit within reason.

When faced with a driver who wants his lane or his space, he gives in.  He slows down and gives way.  He realizes that a few seconds delay are not important in the scheme of things since if he needed those few seconds then he should have been on the road sooner.

I see him with pedestrians who are not paying attention, they have their earphones in, not looking and reading.  He waits and allows them the time to cross even if another one steps off just as he is ready to drive off.

He does not care when a young man in the next car revs his engine at the light and looks over many times to see if he can go first and cut in and be ahead.  My husband lets him.

He never tailgates and never honks his horn for those millisecond delays when people are turning.  He smiles and if I get irritated, he reminds me that he is driving and that he does not mind.

When he gets cut off, my husband slows down and allows the other driver to get ahead.  He once commented that testosterone was not a requirement for driving in the civilized world.

Driving will tell you and others what kind of person you are.