I remember the first time I ever looked at a drivers education manual… it was kind of overwhelming. There are some big obvious things to learn, like speed limit, passing on the left, and moving over for emergency vehicles, among other things. But there are hundreds of very intricate rules that just seem impossible to remember, and many that are often different from state to state. As with every long-standing practice, traditions and rules around driving evolve, and they have been for decades as cars and highways have changed. Alongside those traditions are often myths and urban legends, dating back to who knows when, including this gem. I would always hear people say that if you come to a “Stop” sign that has a white ring around the edge, it was OPTIONAL.
Stop signs are stop signs, regardless of whether or not they have a white border. Saying a stop sign is optional, when we know the law says it isn’t, is almost like saying, “The Rules Don’t Apply to Me”. If we disobey a simple rule like that one, what other things do we feel don’t apply to us too? What other “rules” or standards do we feel are optional or don’t have to be followed all of the time?
This week, I talk about the importance of living our best life by being our best - not by being perfect, but by being our best example to the world.