Let it Ride!
It is said that UPS drivers "pick a spot" when approaching a controlled intersection.
With practice, once they are past that spot, it doesn't matter what the traffic light does - they are proceeding through the crossing.
It takes some practice, but the philosophy is sound.
I hadn't hit that proverbial spot this morning when the light turned yellow, so I had to stop - even though there was no traffic in waiting (it was simply a timing thing in the light's circuitry).
The felt sense of drain was palpable. "What an absolute waste of energy!" I thought...
My truck had inertia on its side. It doesn't get that great a gas mileage anyway, but unnecessary braking? I went from 55-60 to 0 in about 1/4 a mile, and a serious amount of kinetic energy was completely wasted - turned into heat on my brake rotors and pads.
It felt oddly unfair. Like I was robbed of forward momentum and made to sit idle for no real reason at all.
Brakes. They are lifesaving devices that are absolutely necessary as we navigate the highways and byways of our land.
But when they are used indiscriminately, they spew wasted time, energy, and opportunity into the wind.
Do you live life riding the brakes? Are you overly cautious, preferring absolute safety over forward momentum and progress? Do you feel more comfortable slowing down than accelerating, particularly in lesser-known surroundings?
Or, do you train like a UPS driver, pick a spot, and then "let it ride" once you've gotten to that point...
It's a skill, for sure. And I'm certainly not suggesting the proverbial brakes should be removed.
But methinks many of us "ride the brakes" entirely too much throughout our lives.
How much time, energy, and opportunity have been wasted in the process?
Maybe we should do something about that...
Have a fantastic day, everyone!
