Pedestrians and the Invisible Force Field

While I like to always look for improvement in things, I also can't help sometime wondering at the stupidity in other things. Today that comes in the form of the average, street crossing pedestrian. Now maybe its just the peds here in Calgary, Alberta because I know this wouldn't fly in New York or Toronto or Chicago.

Consistently, people seem to rely heavily on the power of the invisible force field of the flashing lights that indicate a pedestrian is crossing. They hit the button to start the lights flashing and start walking into the street without ever looking to see a) if traffic is coming, and b) if that traffic is going to stop. They step into the lane between the white lines as though the lines will protect them from any bumper that dare enter the space.

Sorry to break it to you pedestrians but the flashing lights and white lines will NOT STOP A CAR, SUV or even a bike!

Last week it was a lady with her baby carriage. She hit the pedestrian button and pushed her child into the lane. I saw her and locked up my brakes to stop in time. She gave me a dirty look as though to indicate the lights (and force field) were going off and wasn't I an ass. I wanted to stop the car and ask, do you have any idea how far it takes the average vehicle to come to a complete stop from 50 km/hour?! Apparently not. Had I been looking down or anywhere else I would have crushed that baby carriage ... not a comforting feeling.

This week it was someone who turned sharply out into the street between the white lines. I stopped while the large city utility truck coming the other way couldn't stop in time. It's a function of physics!! This pedestrian hadn't looked up and would have been crushed if not for the truck driver honking his horn.

Please pedestrians ... take a moment to use your head, be present and respect that a bumper is much harder than your shins. I know the lights may be flashing and you may be between the white lines, but avoid the roulette wheel of traffic and assume that the force field could fail one of these days. I'd drive a little easier knowing you know.

Health is Wealth

Like most young, driven and, sometimes even, aggressive people, I am busy living and working at a breakneck speed most of the time. Sure I slow down with a good bottle of wine and also enjoy an afternoon floating in the boat whenever I can. Overall though I am going hard and havin' fun.
Health is often that first thing that gets assumed or overlooked when we are all busy with our daily lives. When people are managing their jobs, families, payments, friends, homes, etc your health becomes an easy thing to skip over or never think of. My trainer Ron always says, if you don't worry about your health it will go away.
I have been ill lately and it has affected me in all aspects of my life - my work, relationship, hobbies, socially, everything. I forgot my own rule about slowing down, taking time for me and that there is great value in slowing down (to be able to speed up later).
My two thoughts are this. Take time every day and each week to honor your health with exercise, pro-active wellness, good food, moderation with everything. I sound like a bloody health guru, or my grandmother, but the idea is sound. You need to MAKE time for this - you WON'T FIND time for this. Secondly, remember your own rules for how you live. Mine has been to take time off, not work weekends, vacation 6-8 weeks a year. Over the last 8 months I had broken my own rules for nurturing and supporting myself. Determine what you need for you each week and month - then do it. Honor you ... and your health.