John Jordan is a freelance writer from Chatham and co-owns a Bed and Breakfast at the family farm.

 

Not long ago, I found myself heading down the highway to an event in Windsor. Along with me was my mother-in-law and my wife and frankly I was pushing the buggy about as fast as I usually drive. Well, not quite true, sometimes my mother-in-law leans over and reminds me that my foot must be getting heavier, but that was not the case on this drive.

So, I am driving along and move over to the passing lane or for the reference of this yarn, into the fast lane. But out in front was this slow moving creep in the...fast lane. I crept, no, I almost ate the dummy's bumper but I eased back and waited for him to slide back into the driving lane so I could pass. No, although the right lane was open, he sat there. So I crept up behind him a second time. Do you think he'd move? Not in your life! I eased back a second time and waited a few more miles for my expected passing maneuver. No, the jerk just didn't budge.

Now in Europe or Britain, a stunt like this would strip you of your driving privileges but not here in good old, reserved Canada where idiots are allowed to demonstrate their IQ on the highway. So I did what the smart drivers from the old sod do; they approach the imbeciles like this one and then flash their headlights. I confess, I did it; just one little flash with the headlight switch. "Pleeeeease, can you move over because now there are about 200 other impatient drivers behind me and they are about to do the same thing to me," I thought.

Well, you would have thought I had given this nincompoop the one finger salute. He jammed on his brakes and if I wasn't alert, I really was headed for a bumper sandwich. So I laid on the binders and eased over to the driving lane (read slow lane). I said to my passengers, "Yup, it looks like we are in this lane for the rest of the trip to Windsor," (I never pass on the right). And I watched this fellow continue to perplex a whole bunch of other drivers the same way he did to me.

But somewhere in this experience I came to the conclusion that perhaps it was I who had a problem. Just what was I going to that required me to speed in the first place? Was it that important? NO!

So I cruised into Windsor, no worse for wear and a bit smarter.

Smarter you say? Yes, just think about this and how it applies to so many things in life. I have seen it so many times where the less experienced person, jumps into a task without a plan or a thought as to the best way to tackle it. That person ends up expending more energy and getting less done. Instead, on that drive to Windsor, I saw where I too was heading down that road, in the fast lane no less. And to be truthful, my thoughts about that driver's parentage and intelligence were a little off base too.

In the slow lane, I got to where I wanted to be and was happier for it.

Too simplistic an outlook you say? On occasion, while sitting on the verandah, I start to think in simple terms. The very idea of me thinking sometimes scares me but in this case, I think I am right. The next time you have a project in mind, try what I did, take it a little easier, think hard before you act and then act effectively. Not a bad way to be and others will wonder who the slow poke is who crossed the finish line first.