An Exasperated Mother Finds Herself Trailing A Slow-Moving Vehicle And Captures An Image Of The Sign Displayed In Their Window
On her blog, “Reflections and Insights,” Hailey introduces herself as a “mother, spouse, member of a faith community, counselor, and occasional overthinker with a fondness for polka dots and an odd fascination with zombies.” One morning, she encountered frustration due to traffic, particularly while stuck behind an older SUV.
The vehicle appeared to be experiencing some mechanical issues, although she couldn’t discern the exact problem until she approached closely enough to read the note affixed to the rear window of the Ford.
Upon reading the message: “Learning to drive stick, apologies for any inconvenience,” she experienced a sudden revelation about herself rather than the SUV driver. She captured a photo of the note and shared her insight on social media, not only reflecting on herself but also on the individuals we encounter on the road and in our daily lives.
Realizing that the driver was in the process of learning to drive a manual transmission, she remarked, “I exercised patience with their slow gear shifts, and truthfully, they were managing quite commendably for a beginner.” She then pondered, “Would I have shown the same level of patience if there hadn’t been a sign? I’m inclined to think not.” This realization prompted her to acknowledge an issue.
“We are often unaware of the challenges others face. There are no visible indicators of personal struggles adorning our attire,” she remarked. “You won’t find placards pinned to people’s clothing announcing, ‘Navigating a divorce,’ or ‘Grieving the loss of a child,’ or ‘Battling depression,’ or ‘Fighting cancer.'”
“If we could visually perceive the hardships others endure, we would undoubtedly extend more compassion. However, we shouldn’t require visible signs or explanations to treat strangers with kindness. It should be our default mode, regardless of our knowledge of their circumstances. Let’s offer everyone an extra measure of understanding, empathy, and affection,” she concluded.
We cannot ascertain the burdens people carry, and we hope that the handwritten note, along with Hailey’s reflection, will serve as a lesson in empathy for others.