Have you ever thought about the intricacies of taking a journey? Well, I am sure you have journeyed at least once in life - whether by road, rail, water or air. I am also certain you have your reservations about the mode of transport. Maybe you have had a bad experience on the road, as a result you are fearful on the road. Maybe on your first time in a boat, thrilled as you were, the winds were so great - the boat unfortunately capsized. That was your first and last time in a boat until today. Back to the question - journey of life - let's imagine for the purpose of this post - that you are sitting at the driver seat, you are the captain of the ship or plane - that in your life you are the driver as well as the passenger.
We will attempt to derive the lessons from your journey of life.
Who is the driver?
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In a car, there is just one driver, one person who controls the vehicle. Maybe there is a car that has two steering wheels, I don't know. Conventionally, there is normally one steering wheel, one break, one accelerator, one gear and one driver's seat.
In the journey of your life who steers the wheel, determines when you have to make an emergency brake, accelerates or decelerates and determines which gear is in force - is a question we must ask soberly?
In Kenya, we have a public transport mechanism popularly branded as a 'matatu' - a 14-seater vehicle with a driver and a conductor who collects the fare due to them and ensures that you alight at your designated stop.
I've never known conductor is a valid English word. Had to cross-check its meaning :
conductor : a collector of fares in a public conveyance
Most times than not matatus are the only form of transport available to the general populous.
In the rush to reach a certain amount of gains per day, matatus are driven recklessly on the road. Most who notice this, are other drivers who don't understand the rush, avid passengers may be unsatisfied but because of the hurry they are in, they may let the offenses slide as long as they make it early to their destination. The careful passengers wish they were in control of the vehicle to drive better.
I have gone at great length to illustrate something. If you are in a badly driven vehicle, don't you wish you were the driver and you would do things better and be more safe-conscious. I wish I could give the reckless drivers my two cents of advice, to just slow down and think of the passengers they are entrusted with. If the vehicle were to be involved in a bad crash, wouldn't everyone be in danger and not just the driver. It is sad but most times, people rarely think about the consequences of their actions before engaging in wrong behavior.
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To link this back to our post. You are the driver of your life. You are the passenger in the car of your life as well. It might sound paradoxical, but lets ask critically. Ultimately, who gets most hurt when you are driving the car of your life recklessly? Who is it that is hurt more? Even if you had other passengers as well, their safety is upon your hands. Drive well, and they will arrive well.
Driving badly in your life may manifest differently. You know yourself better, some things to look out for on the road of your life are : -
Are you driving your car, or have you delegated that task (willingly or unwillingly)?
Are you on the right road?
Do you know where you are going?
Do you even know where you are?
Are you headed in the right direction?
Are you driving too fast you are not checking the signs on the road?
Is the fuel in your car empty or is it just enough to get you to the destination?
Have you stopped to ask for directions? Maybe you're lost, that is why the journey is taking longer than expected.
Where are the potholes on the road? To avoid them you need to know where they are.
Are you complaining and blaming other drivers for your mistakes?
Have you forgotten who is turning the steering wheel?
I would love to read your insights on this post. Who holds the keys, who is the driver in the road of your life?
"Do you know where you are?"
ReplyDeleteI love that question.. Most of us are keen to know where we are going but not so keen to connect it to where we are. I think one cannot go far if they cannot connect the dots..where they are to where they want to go.
Great thoughts here.
I love that question too. One has to resolve to be true to themselves, to answer it. Is where I am going to lead me to where I want to go, that's connecting the dots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ngina for reading and sharing your insights.