Speed Demons

Our lives begin to end
the minute we become silent
about things that matter.
~ Martin Luther King ~
***

Did you ever notice that folks are always in a hurry? A hurry to do this, or a hurry to do that? A hurry to get someplace that isn’t going to go anywhere if they slowed down to get there?

Riding home from church on Sunday, someone was behind me riding my tail. I was doing sixty, the speed limit, but he kept edging me forward to go faster and faster. For five miles, my eyes were more on the rear-view mirror than the road. After the accident I had last year where I went flying into the ditch, I hate to have someone on my tail.

I get nervous and panicky, but I’m doing a lot better and this is why I allowed him to ride behind me. I used to pull over to the side and let them pass, but since I’m still working on getting better, I just coasted at sixty. But we hit the other road and the limit is only 55 and the ditch to the side is pretty deep, I’d say six or seven feet. I dropped to 50.  The ditches unnerve me to no end!

The tailgater sped around me honking his horn like a maniac and in return I sped up and honked my horn almost losing control. But I took a deep breath, slowed down and went forward, trying to get the speed demons out of my head.

What is so important that you would speed and not have a care for the value of your life? Why in this world is everyone in such a hurry?

I think of writers too who want to be published now. Not next year or the years after, NOW! They are still in mid story and already have their book published. I love a positive outlook but people, you need to finish the book first.

Getting published takes time. It is not something you do one day and the next week you see your name in lights. And one thing you can never do is speed up the process and go around a few hurdles to get where you’re going.

Have ya ever heard, “Slow and steady wins the race”? In this business you need to have that thought front and center in your mind. ‘I’ll take it slow, and win the race when I get to the finish line.’

We can’t say, my novel will be published on such and such a date before you’ve ever finished. When it isn’t on the shelves by that date, you will feel a major letdown. Why not say, “My book is going to be published when I’m done!” Period. Don’t set a date and time. Just like when you’re driving home, keep in mind, your home will still be there if you take your time to get there. There is no need to hurry and rush through life. LIFE IS TOO SHORT!