By Nkiru Oh
On several occasions, I have seen many commercial vehicles and school buses with this inscription at the back: "how am I driving?" Initially, I did not think about those words beyond their literal meaning: call the number at the back if the driver messes up on the road. I wonder whether anyone has the courtesy to call to commend a driver any way! Just musing though.
As time went on, I started thinking about those words beyond the surface meaning. I began to ask myself a lot of questions. How am I driving? Do I consider other road users or am I simply a selfish driver? Do I drive responsibly or recklessly like a maniac? Do I give myself time to get to my destination or do I wait until the last minute before I zoom off and want to fly and run all the red lights? Am I cognizant of the fact that my irresponsible driving can ruin me or other road users? Do I think of the consequences of any reckless behavior?
How am I driving? Do I pick up my cell phone as soon as I start my car? Do I drive and text at the same time? Yes, am I a 'car-talker' or 'car-texter' or both? Do I think about the thousands of lives that have been wasted due to addiction to 'car-talkng' and 'car-texting'?
At this stage of my life, that simple question, "how am I driving?" is not simple any more! The meaning now goes beyond operating a vehicle. It has become my daily assessment tool, a kind of mantra. How am I behaving in relation to my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, strangers, in fact, other humans? Do not get me wrong please, I do not let people walk atop me. And I know about the creeps out there. But reminiscing on these words can broaden one's horizon for the better. Or don't you think so?
See, I have likened this tool to the golden rule, "do unto others as you would want them do unto you!" Yes, because, if I honestly and objectively analyze how I am driving, and the next person does the same, life will be better for all of us. There will be less road accidents, less careless deaths, less avoidable deaths, less wickedness, less violence in our society. How do I mean, you ask? By each of us being considerate, applying our freedom within control. It may not matter what others think of us. But we know when we deviate from the universal good.
So how well am I driving on this road of life? Do I know my purpose in life or am I clueless? If I know my purpose, am I fulfilling it or am I wasting time, wandering in darkness? Does my life have meaning? Is my life a blessing? Am I impacting positively or negatively? How well am I driving on this road of life? It's impossible to satisfy everybody. But it's possible to aim for the highest good! How am I driving? And how are you driving?
On several occasions, I have seen many commercial vehicles and school buses with this inscription at the back: "how am I driving?" Initially, I did not think about those words beyond their literal meaning: call the number at the back if the driver messes up on the road. I wonder whether anyone has the courtesy to call to commend a driver any way! Just musing though.
As time went on, I started thinking about those words beyond the surface meaning. I began to ask myself a lot of questions. How am I driving? Do I consider other road users or am I simply a selfish driver? Do I drive responsibly or recklessly like a maniac? Do I give myself time to get to my destination or do I wait until the last minute before I zoom off and want to fly and run all the red lights? Am I cognizant of the fact that my irresponsible driving can ruin me or other road users? Do I think of the consequences of any reckless behavior?
How am I driving? Do I pick up my cell phone as soon as I start my car? Do I drive and text at the same time? Yes, am I a 'car-talker' or 'car-texter' or both? Do I think about the thousands of lives that have been wasted due to addiction to 'car-talkng' and 'car-texting'?
At this stage of my life, that simple question, "how am I driving?" is not simple any more! The meaning now goes beyond operating a vehicle. It has become my daily assessment tool, a kind of mantra. How am I behaving in relation to my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, strangers, in fact, other humans? Do not get me wrong please, I do not let people walk atop me. And I know about the creeps out there. But reminiscing on these words can broaden one's horizon for the better. Or don't you think so?
See, I have likened this tool to the golden rule, "do unto others as you would want them do unto you!" Yes, because, if I honestly and objectively analyze how I am driving, and the next person does the same, life will be better for all of us. There will be less road accidents, less careless deaths, less avoidable deaths, less wickedness, less violence in our society. How do I mean, you ask? By each of us being considerate, applying our freedom within control. It may not matter what others think of us. But we know when we deviate from the universal good.
So how well am I driving on this road of life? Do I know my purpose in life or am I clueless? If I know my purpose, am I fulfilling it or am I wasting time, wandering in darkness? Does my life have meaning? Is my life a blessing? Am I impacting positively or negatively? How well am I driving on this road of life? It's impossible to satisfy everybody. But it's possible to aim for the highest good! How am I driving? And how are you driving?
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