Run Defensively

Moments before, I had been happily driving with my girlfriend – we were on our way to be inducted into a national honor fraternity ceremony at our college.  She sat on the passenger side putting on her last touches of make up.  I was driving, and I watched a man coming toward me with his blinker on.  I looked in disbelief, he was so close to me, there was no way he could make the turn.  And besides, I had the right of way. 

That was my last thought.  I have the right of way. 

My very next memory, after He won’t turn, I have the right of way, was waking up in my mom’s smashed up car with a stranger cradling me. Although I had been the driver, now I was in the middle of the car.  Who knows where my friend was – not in the car.  EMTs were putting me on a board, strapping me down, and carefully removing me from a broken window.  My body was convulsing and the man who I woke up next to (I’ll save that one for another story) was saying “it’s ok, you’ve been in an accident.  You’re ok”…. All this happened in a matter of moments as I watched Good Samaritan out in the sunlight looking back at me on this board in the ambulance. 

This was over 25 years ago. 

Decades of lingering pain have taught me something very important.  So what if I had the right of way.  Sometimes, let the wrong person have the right of way……. 

Remember when you were learning to drive and your mom or dad would say “Drive defensively”?  or how about, “Don’t trust that driver’s blinker.  It’s been on since 1957”.  Remember that one?

Well, I’m going to morph it some, but the principle is the same.  Run defensively.  I can’t tell you how many times I have been on the sidewalk and someone is backing out of their driveway, utterly oblivious to the pedestrian on the sidewalk.  Or how about when they are looking to their left while making a right hand turn – only you happen to be on the right  hand side and they aren’t even thinking of people – only cars.  You are not in their thoughts.  It matters nothing if you have the right of way.  You, as a runner, are nothing in the face of a car. 

I was lucky 25 years ago.  I was in a car.  But I was niave, a fairly new young driver.  And I assumed we all play by the rules all the time. 

Now, when I see the oblivious driver, texting, talking, or looking the other way, I still get that same thought…

I have the right of way

Only now, I have a second sentence run through my head.  And it’s:

Who cares.  Stop anyway. 

I encourage you to pick up a copy of my book, 7 Days to a New You, which is currently out on amazon.  Let this guide you through not only a food cleanse, but an emotional renewal.  Fall is a great time for cleanses as well.  Pick a copy up today!