Life is a driving lesson

Good evening and welcome to Life and Driving 101.

You may think driving isn't that important, but don't be fooled. Everything about driving a car reflects upon how you live your life. You may doubt the validity of that, but if you can pass this driving test, you can pass life with flying colours. Let's begin with module 1:
Get behind the wheel of your own life, in just 10 easy steps.

Firstly, in life we have to know the rules. This too, is obviously the case on the road. Neglecting to follow these rules can hurt you and those around you. Reckless drivers hurt others, often because they're complacent in their own safety and ability. People suffer because the rules are abused.
Life and driving lesson number 1: Don't abuse the rules. They're there for a reason and people get hurt if we don't follow them.

In life you get those who sit on your backseat, as well as those who sit on the passenger seat. The person who sits next to you is most often your partner and behind you - your kids or friends. You are responsible for them, and they trust you. But watch out for the backseat driver. Sometimes, if they know where you're going, they can be a tremendous amount of help. But more often than not, they only assist in getting you lost. You need to follow your own sense of direction sometimes.
Life and driving number lesson 2: Advice is very helpful if the person knows what they're talking about, but be careful of those who will mislead you in life.

As for the people in the backseat, they are your followers, and they look up to you. They end up where you end up, and they follow your same road. They have little direction of their own. Life and driving lesson number 3: Know that what every road you take in life; you're setting an example, and a road to be followed. So make it the right one.

Your life needs fuel and maintenance. You can't run for miles on end without stopping to refuel or to check the oil or water. Sometimes in life you need to take a break, or you might overheat and stop working all together. On the other hand you need to make sure that you don't remain unused for too long. Then one day when you need it, it simply won't start. Life and driving Lesson number 4: Make sure you don't overwork yourself, but don't be too lazy at the same time. Neither are good for you in the long haul.

Life, like a car, comes with gears. Some of us have been in low gear for so long that we've never needed to use the clutch. But everyone knows you don't go anywhere very quickly in first gear. At some points in life, we need to push in the clutch and analyse the situation, if we're going to slow, we can change the gear to one that will handle a higher rev or workload, and speed everything up a little. At the same time however, we can't do parking in 4th gear. Sometimes we need to treat life's intricacies slowly and with patience. Relationships between car and parking lot are always a lot better when given time.
Life and driving lesson number 5: Be careful to stay in the correct gear in life, put in the clutch, analyse the situation and make the appropriate change. You won't get far in first gear only, neither in fourth. You need to find a balance.

Lights in life let other people know your direction and if you're slowing down. They also let others know if you're in trouble, and visa versa. Letting other people know how and what you're doing helps their life experience and can also save you from a dangerous collision you might not have seen coming. People sometimes flash their lights to warn of a speed cop. You can apply brakes and slow your life down before you get caught up in it. Make sure to flash to say thank you.
Life and driving lesson number 6: Learn to listen to what other people are trying to tell you. You're not the only person on the road of life and communication is essential.

There comes a time when one needs to reflect. We gather ourselves, and look in the rear view mirror. For that second our eyes are not on the road in front of us, but on the road behind. It's a daunting thing to take your eyes off the road in front of you, But you have to look in the mirror sometimes. Before you make a direction change in life, you need to know who's behind you and where you've been. This way the past becomes an invaluable part of your future. Without reflecting you don't know where you stand in life. You don't know what's behind you, and the potential dangers that may lurk in your wake.
Life and driving lesson number 7: Take time in life to reflect and to see how others are doing, as well as where you stand with them.

But at the same time be careful not to take your eyes off the road ahead for too long. It's no use knowing where you've been but not where we're going. Without this focus on our direction and ambition, you might veer of the straight and narrow road. This could cause you and others to have an accident.
Life and driving lesson number 8: Don't think about the past too much. Make sure you know where you're going in life at all times.

One of the most important aspects of driving is checking your blind spot. We often overlook those that are right beside us in life. They're in our blind spot, and we take them for granted. Neglecting to notice them can be very dangerous and we have to acknowledge their presence. Driving on the highway the other day, I failed to observe someone in my blind spot and proceeded to change lanes. Noticing what was happening, the other car sped away. Life and driving lesson number 9: Don't forget about those who stand right beside you in life. If you take them for granted they might just speed away and leave you with no-one by your side.

I think the car manufacturers seem to have got the gist of what I'm saying tonight. They seem to know that life should be fun and an experience that we make our own. We all lead a different life and express ourselves in a unique fashion, whether our lives are 'sheer driving pleasure', or if we plan to 'shift expectations'. For some of us 'everything keeps going right' and for others 'peace of mind is part of the deal'. But whoever we are, one thing's for certain: There will be decisions to make. Whether it be a fork in the road on a Sunday afternoon country drive or choosing a lane in rush hour traffic, the choice is yours. Make sure you apply all of the lessons your instructor taught you tonight and you'll pass just fine. Finally,
Life and driving lesson number 10: Life's a journey. Enjoy the ride.