Let’s continue from where we left off last week and look at some things a road trip can teach you about life.
Rule Four: Expect bumps!
We talked a little about this one under rule two “watch out for potholes!” but I think we can learn something extra here. Once you are by legal definition an “adult” you already know that life in unpredictable and it is probably better that we expect surprises but even with this understanding, we still get shocked when life doesn’t go exactly how we plan. The purpose of speed bumps is to regulate the speed of drivers; basically it is to get them to slow down when they would not to do ordinarily. Life comes with moments like that, moments that shake us up and force us to slow down when we would rather not. In times like that, I think we should go with the flow, when life tells us to slow down we should listen because speeding past through speed bumps can cause damage to a car. It’s never a fun experience but instead of being frustrated by the unexpectedness that life throws at us, we can choose to take a deep breath, be thankful for how far we have come and then begin to plan how to move forward. We may have to continue slowly for a while but if we’re patient enough, we will be sure to find our rhythm soon enough.
Rule Five: Rest stops are totally needed!
My favourite part of any journey is when we get to stop for just a few minutes to rest. We usually stop at a place where they sell food and snacks and this is great because most trips I’ve taken begin really early in the morning so there’s no time to eat breakfast. You also get to pee in a proper toilet (everything else on the road is just miles and miles of bushes and trees) and just stretch your leg. Trust me when I say these rest stops do wonders for every person going on that journey because before then, the atmosphere in the vehicle is usually dull with people dozing off from exhaustion but after those rest stops the mood in the vehicle is visibly lifted. People are eating their snacks and drinking water and so they have the strength to make conversation again and laughter rings out from every corner. You can see why it’s my favourite part of the journey. Sometimes what we need in life is just a little rest and relaxation for our whole perspective to change. Life can really get stressful and it may feel like we are little mice trapped in a cage and running non-stop on a tiny wheel. If we can just stop for a moment we will find that it will feel like we rebooted our entire lives and any dullness will be lifted and a new fire will begin to burn within us. It is when we don’t stop that we tend to reach breaking points or have meltdowns, just take time for yourself away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world and mentally recalibrate if you’re feeling off-track or overwhelmed. It will help you evaluate your goals and make upgrades where necessary. Sometimes all you need for a fulfilled life is to just stop.
Rule Six: Know your destination
I’m sure you would have heard the saying “if you don’t know where you are going, everywhere will look like you’ve arrived” and I have to say, it is very true! As we begin to get closer to our destination, people begin to come down from the vehicle because they’ve come as far as they needed to and slowly the vehicle becomes empty and feels even more so when your seat partner comes down too. But there is something called “last bus stop” and it usually means that all passengers must end their trip there because the vehicle isn’t going farther than that. I usually travel with my friends and as we get closer home, some of them begin to alight from the vehicle either because their parents are waiting to pick them up at a particular spot or their home is closer to that location. I never came down till we reached the last bus stop though because my home was just around the corner from the park and coming down untimely would further extend my arrival. In life, it’s important to know where we’re headed to so we don’t make the mistake of coming down anywhere just because someone else is doing the same. Finding purpose is probably one of life’s biggest quests, we all want that one (or two or three or infinity) thing that makes us feel like we’re contributing to the world and that our life matters. Following other people’s dreams when it is not your own dream will leave you feeling unfulfilled and frustrated. So, if you know where you would like to go with your life, stay the course and don’t let anything distract you and don’t get tired no matter how long it may take to get there and if you don’t know yet what you want to do, don’t stop searching and never, ever settle for a dream that isn’t yours.
Rule Seven: You may have to overtake the same trailer more than once
Remember when we rested in rule five? Well not everyone did especially those trailers from rule one because they are so big and are usually carrying deliveries they don’t really have as many rest options as other vehicles. This means that it shouldn’t really surprise you when you find yourself trailing behind them once again. Don’t get me wrong, I know it can be quite frustrating especially if it took you a really long time to overtake them in the first place but what you have to do is rule one all over again; overtake! Do you struggle with habits, addictions or character flaws? Have you ever thought you overcame a weakness only for it to pop back up again? Do your struggles feel never-ending? If you answered yes to any of these questions, know you’re not alone. We all struggle with things we are not proud off and sometimes when it seems like we’re making progress, we find ourselves falling and having to start from the beginning all over again. It can be tiring along with being demoralising and discouraging but we mustn’t get tired because that is something that is totally part of life, facing the same giant more than once. In moments like that what should we do? We have to try and overtake again because the alternative of remaining at the back of the trailer is a pretty bleak one. You try again and you try other strategies you didn’t think of before, recruit a support team, journal, talk to a therapist, pray but whatever you do don’t stop trying to overtake. So, if you ever find yourself overtaking the same trailer again and again, don’t stop until you reach your destination because the trailer will never be able outrun you.