Weighing Defensive Living

Lately, while driving, I've noticed repeatedly that if I lived life like I am supposed to drive, I would avoid many life errors.  I am learning that defensive driving techniques transferred over to life can help me to become more successful in this game of life.

Defensive Driving can equal Defensive Living?

According to the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course, to drive defensively is driving to save lives, time and money in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. What a great life goal! Everyday we begin our day on what many call the road of life.  Let me ask you, are you defensive living?

You are in the driver seat of your life. It is up to you to learn the techniques of defensive living.  Though other people may not understand how to live a happy helpful life, you must accept it.  And quite frankly,  defensive living is designed for that purpose. If done accurately, it will prepare you for situations when you must interact with those who aren't looking out for your best interest as well as when you find yourself in an atmosphere that can be considered difficult or maybe just a little out of the norm.

Accidents

Car accidents are easy to describe as detrimental, but do we ever view our words or actions towards other people in the same way? Sometimes we have social accidents. Life accidents where we have the option to do the right thing, perhaps save a life, save time and money in spite of our conditions. How about this, have you ever found yourself blaming another for bad moments in our life? How could you have prevented it?

Defensive Living, means preparing and understanding the people around you and appreciating the fact that most hiccups can be avoided if we take the necessary steps to avoid them. We must understand the dangers around us natural and unnatural so that we may prepare for them if they may ever occur.

Tickets

Tickets! Don't they just make you want to scream? We all hate penalties. We don't like when we hear, "You owe us." Especially when we are paying the price for something we don't even want...a parking ticket. Nevertheless, how do we avoid them? The easiest answer is to obey the rules. That is simple enough, and it's true, but there is more to it than that.  Most people want to obey the law, or follow the rules. However, there is an additional step to avoiding tickets, you have to be able to read the signs.

And in reality, the first step to reading signs is to look for them.  When you park you must look for the signs to read, when you are driving on the expressway, or even down the street you have to look for the signs to read so that you don't make a mistake that will reward you with a ticket.

So how does this apply to life? Very easy, look for the signs to read. When you are driving your eyes are supposed to be focused on the road, and when you are living you should also focus on the road of life.  After a while, you begin to recognize situations. For instance, when you get into a residential area, you begin to look for Stop Signs.  In life,  scenarios can begin to become familiar as well, and at that moment don't ignore it, look for the signs, and suddenly you will know what to do. Because what do signs do? They direct you.

In reality, I can probably go through a hundred plus scenarios that demonstrate how driving can reflect life.  I think the point is that when you are driving, for most of us, we get into a serious, focused mode.  We begin to think defensively. We want to be safe. We want to make the right decisions.  If we lived everyday with that mindset of a driver, I think we could be better prepared for life.  Living like you are defensive driving, also known as defensive living is weighed in at 800lbs, not a ton in consideration of those who do not drive...yet.

Weighing Defensive Living
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 800lbs Important

Weighing Your Sassy Mark

What exactly does it mean to be sassy? Before I looked up the definition, I thought it was a more negative trait than positive. Why? Simply, because of this phrase that many of us have heard pointed at ourselves or others, "Don't be sassy!" I knew from a very early age that whatever it meant to be sassy it was clear that adults didn't want us to be that way, because there was a strong "don't" attached to it.

Recently, I looked further into the word's definition.  To be sassy means to be, impertinent, insolent, saucy, but I think that this might be the definition for those who don't know how to be sassy with class. The second-level definition states that being sassy is to be pert, boldly smart, saucy.  Put simply, to be sassy usually means you have done or said something daringly forward in speech or behavior.  

A lot of times when you speak out or dress differently people will look at you negatively, especially when you are younger or inexperienced.  However, what would we do without these forward thinkers? We can easily remain at the status quo.  But who likes the status quo?  I know I don't.   Maybe you can feel good for a moment but does that mean it can't get better.  Have we ever seen the absolute best?  I don't think so because then we might be forced to ask, what are we living for?

We are living to grow continuously, to keep getting better to find the next-best thing.  We need those who dare to be bold to find their sassy mark in history so that others can learn and make their progression. 

So speaking of mark, what does it really mean to make your mark? To mark something, is to make a visible impression or trace on something.  When you make your Sassy Mark you boldly make a forward-moving statement that leaves an impression.

The key is to make your Sassy Mark tastefully in a way that will not be received as insolent or impertinent. I won't lie, sometimes it will be hard to do this even if you try to introduce something new in a pleasant and inviting way. Many people just don't like change.  So what will they do? Put a negative spin on your differences to discourage any forward movement or variance of the status quo.  At that point, it is up to you to decide the worth of your ploy of change.  And be real with yourself, is it for the betterment or to be destructive or difficult?

When you've answered that question, and you know what you want to introduce is forward movement for an improvement.  You realize that in order to do so you must make your mark and be bold and maybe a bit sassy. I say go for it! Make your Sassy Mark!

In weighing Your Sassy Mark, I believe it to be a priority.  Feel free to make it a necessity, be bold with your forward movements, be fearless with your thoughts around change. If you don't do it, who will?

Weighing Your Sassy Mark
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 1 Ton Priority

Weighing New Year Resolutions

This weekend was Independence Day weekend, the celebration of America's Independence. However, around this time I am always drawn to the realization that half the year is over. Half the year is over and what have I done with it? Each year is a staple in a person's life. It is defined as the time of which any planet makes a complete revolution around the sun. The year is also significant in aging and a signature of growth. It is no wonder every year millions of people make New Year Resolutions.

However, the most common result of New Year Resolutions is that they're not kept. Ask about New Year Resolutions on Independence Day and you'll find many shaking heads and replying, "Nope. I didn't keep it, maybe next year." Half the year has gone by, and for the most part, people have returned to their old habits. Whatever it was that was necessary to change is no longer apparent, until the next year.

A resolution is a formal expression of opinion, or intention made, a resolve or determination. It is an action word. Applying thought is imperative when making a resolution. This means that resolutions usually do not appear out of thin air. The resolution was a proclamation, something that was determined. So if determination, the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose was used when making a New Year Resolution, why do most not seem to stick?

I personally think it is the new in a New Year Resolution that is usually not fully comprehended. To be new is defined as, of recent origin, of a kind now existing or appearing for the first time. However, it is the additional definitions unfamiliar or strange, unaccustomed that I find the most telling. When something is new for the most part, you have to get used to it. With a New Year Resolution, you're changing a habit, you are adding a new regimen, something is being changed about you. You actively have to work at it. If you hit a bump in the road, it is definitely not a reason to stop. When someone asks you have you kept your New Year Resolution, why not reply I'm working on it.

When weighing New Year Resolutions, I definitely see the validity of making them. To inspire annually to be a better person can only be a positive aspiration, however the objective is to keep the resolution, remember it, instill it again if you stop for some reason. Setting a New Year Resolution is important, however, keeping it is the priority.

Weighing New Year Resolutions
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 800lbs Important