We’re on the expressway. We’ve been following a truck for some time and the HOW’S MY DRIVING? sign keeps staring back at me. I remark to my son, “Thank goodness mommy doesn’t have a sign on her car asking people to call about her driving!” He seemed happy about that too, much to my chagrin.
So what happens when you call that phone number? Have you ever wondered? Have you ever called? Are you getting ahead of me here? Oh yes, I had to do it.
“Thank you for calling our dedicated safety driving hotline. Please leave the number of the truck, your location and the incident.” Incident?
“Umm…Hi, my name is Christine and I am on Interstate 35 near Hebron Parkway and truck number 364 is driving great! He is maintaining the speed limit, making safe lane changes and using his turn signal. How’s his driving you ask? Excellent!” I even left my name and number so they wouldn’t think it was a prank.
We live in such a “Gotcha” world, constantly looking for things to go wrong. When you have your “Gotcha Goggles” on, you will see plenty of infractions. Try putting on “Grateful Glasses” for a change.
A great tip from my book, “The Good Stuff,” is to take the “Ten Coin Challenge.” When you get dressed, put 10 coins in your left pocket and begin your day looking for something good to comment on. I know! This may be difficult, but do it anyway.
Tell your partner how much you appreciated finding the newspaper on the kitchen table. Thank your kids for getting themselves up on time. Now here’s the change part…each time you appreciate someone, move a coin from your left pocket to your right. Please be subtle so no one knows what you are doing.
By the end of the day, you should have all the coins in your right pocket. Full coin transfer may not happen every day, but if you get in the habit of looking through your Grateful Glasses, you’ll definitely notice your attitude and attitudes of those around you shifting — in a positive way. When you look for the good, you will find it more often.
Right now, I’m grateful that I don’t have a sign on my car with a phone number asking about my driving!