A mom was just trying to get to work when the vehicle in front of her slowed her down. Eventually, she reached a red light and was able to get closer. As she did so, she noticed a sign in the rear window of the SUV. When she read what was written, she quickly took a photo for everyone to see.
Hailey is a “freaky mom, wife, Mormon, counselor, and professional with a minor obsession with polka dots and zombies,” according to her blog Thoughts, Dots, and Tots. Just like the rest of us, the busy mother, devoted wife, and community member gets frustrated with life from time to time.
With a long list of responsibilities, thanks to the many hats she wears, she is often on the go and in a hurry. As we’ve all experienced, when you have somewhere to go, it’s easy to get frustrated at finding yourself stuck behind a slow vehicle, especially when you need to hurry and get to work.
This was the case for Hailey on an otherwise ordinary morning. The older SUV in front of her was obviously having some problems, although at first she wasn’t sure what exactly was causing the delay. But everything will become abundantly clear when the working mother gets closer and notices a sign in the back window of the Ford in front of her.
Reading the words “Learning stick, sorry for any delay,” Hailey was hit with a realization – and it was about herself, not the driver in front of her. It had such an impact that she quickly took to Facebook after taking a photo to reveal what she immediately realized not only about herself, but those of us who share the road and this world with each other.
Knowing the person was learning to drive a stick, Hailey says, “I was very patient with their slow shifting, and honestly, they were doing pretty well at continuing to learn.” » That’s when something struck her and she asked herself a difficult question: “Would I have been as patient if the sign hadn’t been there? I can almost certainly say no“, she admitted. And that’s when she realized a huge problem.
“We don’t know what anyone is going through. We don’t carry signs depicting our personal struggles“, she explained. “You don’t see signs stuck on people’s shirts saying, ‘Going through a divorce,’ ‘Lost a child,’ ‘Feeling depressed,’ or ‘Cancer diagnosis.’
“If we could visually read what those around us are experiencing, we would certainly be kinder. But we shouldn’t have to see signs or have reasons to treat strangers with kindness. We should do it anyway, whether we know what’s going on or not. Whether they deserve it or not,” Hailey continued before concluding: “Let’s give everyone an extra dose of patience, kindness and love. »
Indeed, not everyone is always at their best when they get behind the wheel. Sometimes people drive to a family emergency or return home after receiving bad news. Those of us around them don’t know their story, but it doesn’t take much to give others some leeway, not just on the road but in life in general.
Hopefully this hand-scribbled message and Hailey’s awareness will touch others and serve as a lesson. She could have freaked out or overreacted. Instead, she took a deep breath and exercised a little patience. It’s a great reminder that we need to stay calm, be kind, and give others the time they need to accomplish what they’re trying to do. We don’t know what difficulties they might face, and a little empathy can go a long way.
#FULL #STORY #Mom #Frustrated #Slow #Vehicle #Snaps #Photo #Sign #Window
#Mom #Frustrated #Slow #Vehicle #Snaps #Photo #Sign #Window
