As I approached the toll road on the highway, there are all kinds of brightly lit signs directing me.
This way goes south in 3/4 miles toward Chippenham Parkway.
The next right is north on Chippenham Parkway.
There’s a smaller white sign that tells me that improperly mounted tags are subject to higher fees.
A bit further ahead it tells me that this is the lane for EZ Pass drivers.
While a few other lanes over clearly states that it is for exact change only.
There is also numerous speed limit signs, the road curves this way signs and do not stop in the shoulder signs.
Signs are everywhere!
Each sign has a purpose and within the ten seconds that I’m supposed to be focused forward to go between the narrow cash collecting boxes, I’m also expected to read and obey all the signs.
This whole scenario is like life. It speeds past us at an uncontrollable speed. We are bombarded with information that will be helpful and some that is mandatory. However, we have limits and the free agency to make choices.
I do not have to go the speed limit through the toll just because the sign dictates that is the law. It is wise and the traffic ticket I would receive for breaking that law is undesirable, but I still have the choice to disobey it.
Our children can listen to the good advice we give them to spare their lives from the inevitable pain of poor choices or they can choose to learn for themselves the hard, unhappy way. As good parents, we try to teach our children the advantages and disadvantages of choosing one way or the other because we love them. It isn’t something that is done to give us the thrill of controlling a younger person. That is simply ludicrous.
It takes humility and the desire to be obedient to follow laws, rules and to learn. Being humble means that you are not overly proud or arrogant which is usually easier said than done for many people.
but a humble mind is the soil
out of which thanks naturally grows.
A proud man is seldom a grateful man,
for he never thinks
he gets as much as he deserves.”
~Henry Ward Beecher~
Do we think we get as much as we deserve? Are we thankful for who we are; where we have been; and what we are doing with our lives?
There is only one person that can change our lives. Yes, that is correct. The one person is you.
but a habit.
You are what you repeatedly do.”
~Shaquille ONeal~
Great rewards and accomplishments require great efforts. No, it is not easy, but truly anything worth having isn’t easily obtained. Don’t get caught at the toll road of life without any money to throw in the machine or an EZ Pass to scan. Pay attention to where you are going each day. Make plans and map out the route so that you are making the choices instead of being led down a road that will ultimately bring unhappiness.
With a little money in my pocket, a desire to succeed and enough humility to remain thankful, I am making my way down the highway with hope. Next exit…You’ll just have to stick around to find out.
This is the weekly post where I spotlight my Rockin’ Friends who are the Top Nine active participants and loyal followers in my community! If you want to be mentioned here next week, then all it takes is to come in and start chatting with everyone in my community.
With a big thank you for their participation and friendship, here are the top nine Rockin’ Friends in order of most comments:
I’m so glad that I’ve been able to get to know and build friendships with all these lovely ladies as they have become active in my community and by reading their blogs. Be sure to add each of their blogs to your blogroll, but also come over and chat with them in my community.
For everyone mentioned in the top nine this week, feel free to grab the Rockin’ Friend badge below and thank you for your participation!!
Until the spotlight next week…Happy Chatting Rockin’ Friends!
Don’t forget to add your blog URL to the comments at Woo Us To Your Blog and learn blogging tips that will help you have a polished blog and to increase your traffic! This week it is all about copyrights for for your website or blog. Do you know how to post it and that it isn’t mandatory, but best to do it?
Until next week…Kiss your family, hug your friends and don’t forget to be the friend you would like to have around.
My mom always said that children don't learn from other's mistakes, they learn from their mistakes. Somehow, I think that's true. We can try, but, in the end, they generally have to find out for themselves.
– I'm here to award you with a Stylish Blogger Award! Pop by to claim it at wordsinsync.blogspot.com – Shah. Congrates Lady! XX
So much to be grateful for in such a short time that I've been coming by! Thank you for that…:)JP
I agree that "truly anything worth having isn't easily obtained." I think too many people get disappointed when what they strive for/hope for/expect doesn't come quickly or easily. If it's really important to you, then it's worth working for.
What a deep and meaningful post for me. My son is on his way downstairs and before he begins school I'll share this read with him.
Unfortunately, sometimes the best way is for our children to learn the hard way. Not my first choice, but life is complicated that way.
Sometimes we make the wrong choices. I have done that many times in my lifetime. It does seem that as I grow older, my choices are made with more thought than when I was younger. A very thought provoking post, Red.
I recognize that toll! Lol, just went through it a few days ago.
But yes, life is very confusing. I wake up some morning and wish I was a millionaire, just so I could be an EMT full-time. Then, I sometimes wish I could be a firefighter… but, unfortunately there's things we just can't control.
I took the wrong lane when I was 19, I really wanted to be done with my education by now but my mother just wasn't having it due to her unemployment.
Hopefully tommorows path will lead to better things.