One day I am driving down the road. It is a lightly traveled road, usually 1-2 cars on it when you are. The road is surrounded by trees, so it is a squirrel crossing expressway. This one particular day, a squirrel runs out, he is in the opposite lane, running into mine. I see him and slow down. If he had continued on his course, he would have easily cleared my tire and been safely across the road before I even got to him. Well, unfortunately, he sees me and panics. He thinks, “oh no! Car! What should I do! Go back! No, Go! Wait! Go back! Should I really cross the road? Is this dangerous? Go, I am over 1/2 way, go! No, Go, No, Go!” He paces in front of me, as I get closer to him, not going slow enough to stop. I think, “RUN!!” as I swerve to the left, right, left, right, trying to anticipate what he will do so I don’t hit him! (road kill is in my top 10 of things I strongly dislike). Finally, he COMMITS and makes a choice, he runs in front of me. I whiz by him, squinting my eyes, gripping the wheel, waiting for the bump of my tire crushing his poor little body. I didn’t feel anything; I look in my mirror (expecting to see a 1/2 crushed squirrel, convinced there is no way I could have missed him.) He is not there, lucky for him, he made it in time.
Here is the lesson. If you are going to act, make a decision, look both ways and RUN. Be committed to your decisions and only assess when you are on the other side of the road. Too many people (the majority of the population actually) start to do things and then wonder if that is what they should be doing, so they debate in the middle of the road. I am telling you, you are going to get hit!! Whatever you do, do something. When you get to the other side, reflect and learn and then take the next leap. You are on your way.
