I am a lucky man: I was driving my motocha the other day and somewhat preoccupied with different thoughts. Whatever “my frame of mind,” I was not paying the detailed attention that the driving in Taiwan requires. “Out of the corner of my eye,” I saw a man pulling into the traffic without analyzing the ongoing flow of other vehicles or scrutinizing anything around him for that matter. He was driving like a “bull in a china shop,” with no attention paid to any driver or pedestrian. I have witnessed this behavior on more than one occasion and it always quite shocks me. Is it because he doesn’t care, or he thinks that he is alone, or is it that his “world” does not include the other, at least in the context of driving? I believe that it must be the latter: he does not really include anyone else in his perceptual field — amazing! The stunning amount of minor traffic accidents in this country must be indicative of this perceptual flaw. This will be altered over time, however. When the automobile was first introduced in the fountainhead of the automobile, Detroit, the level of accidents was extremely high. This was ameliorated by changing driving habits and police enforcement:
“The transition from the horse age to the motorized age would prove to be very dangerous. At first speeding vehicles were not big problems, with only a few of them on Detroit streets, but the situation grew serious quickly.
As early as 1908, auto accidents in Detroit were recognized as a menacing problem: In two months that summer, 31 people were killed in car crashes and so many were injured it went unrecorded. Soon thousands of cars jammed Detroit streets, driven by inexperienced drivers. The city would lead the nation in managing this chaotic, enormous problem. Detroit was the first city to use stop signs, lane markings, one-way streets and traffic signals. Detroit was among the first to have a police squad dedicated to traffic control, and second to New York City in creating a judicial court for traffic violations. The city drew national attention for using a tennis court line painting device to mark pedestrian crossing areas, safety zones, and parking spaces.
In many ways, Detroit was the first city to transform the streets and the minds of people from the age of horses to the new, fast-paced age of motor vehicles, but it was a battle that took decades to win. In the first decade of the 20th century, there were no stop signs, warning signs, traffic lights, traffic cops, driver’s education, lane lines, street lighting, brake lights, driver’s licenses or posted speed limits. Our current method of making a left turn was not known, and drinking-and-driving was not considered a serious crime.” (1)
Now to our driver: he narrowly missed hitting me. I responded with the requisite audio-thrust of my scooter horn (really?), which was not acknowledged, and he sped on his way as did I. This was “a close one,” nonetheless, and I stopped to ponder my good fortune: no trip in a white car with red crosses, no missed conversations with students and, perhaps more importantly, the opportunity to continue my mission. God was giving me another chance at life. My luck had held, as the saying goes: I was to continue. You must have remarked to yourself and observed somewhat the same idea: I have a disproportionate amount of good fortune! If you believe that there is a finite amount of positive energy in the universe, you realize that you must have more than many, many others: unfair, but the reality of the cosmos. The question then becomes: what do I do with my over-abundance of serendipity. The answer lies in realizing that you have been given a precious gift. Just by standing next to you others will feel your vibe, your power. Make good use of this: help others, protect others, encourage others. If we all realize that life is this incredible gift and how lucky I am to have some of it, I can change the world. If you throw a single rock into a stationary pond of water, the ripples begin and flow outward: be that rock. The stoic philosopher and scribe, Seneca, (2) leaves us with a thought: Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.
A closing thought: I remark that each and every day is special. There are days, of course, that it does not appear so: it is dreary, cold and wet, yet again. It is on mornings like these that I attempt to see if my belief is really true: I control my own reality – my own moods. The other day I had an opportunity to see if this was true. I awoke feeling overwhelmed: so much to do and, seemingly, so little time. I felt sad and somewhat hopeless. Then I realized: “Wait a moment! I don’t have time for this emotion today. I have too many people to talk to. They deserve a happy and committed educator, not a misanthropic one.” I put this thought in my mind: over the next half an hour or so my emotions changed and I eventually felt positive and contented. Was this just the change of the day or had I actually altered my mood? I would like to believe that I do have at least some control over my emotions. What do you think?
To sum up: This week we spoke about luck. How much do we naturally have and how do we get more. We also discussed driving and the automobile.
A philosophical question: Why are some forms of humor true across all cultures? I think the cartoon, Herman, is a good example:(3)
Just for fun – Bruce Springsteen, Growing Up
This week, on your thoughtful run, please admire the beautiful world we live in.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: We increase our quotient of luck each time we give kindness to other beings: both human and animal.
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