Speeding By

I hate the “Drive like your kids live here” signs.  Not that the “slow children” signs are any better as I find those judgmental.

Every time I see them, I am filled with an urge to speed up. Not because I want to harm any children, but more to prove to the owners of the signs or perhaps the sign makers, that some people have no children so what do their stupid signs even mean? I think, “I am driving like my non-existent children live here.” Or “Some people don’t have kids, what about them?”

This brings me to the one-size fits all or the assumption approach to life.  If someone sees the slow down sign, are they instantly going to chastise themselves for their speeding? How many people notice the signs? How many people with children choose not to slow down because it is not their neighborhood? What if their kids are grown? Do you drive at different speeds at different ages of children?

I realize that I am taking this to an extreme, but it makes me realize the world of assumption in which most of us live. I get that the world is not a one size fits all, mostly because I have rarely been the one size, but it has made me ponder life and the pursuit of happiness. Or is it perfection? But only perfection in each mind as filtered through their values and perceptions.

I think lots of things would make the world better. So far, I am not seeing much from my list happening. I would like a world with fewer bullies or entitled drivers and shoppers. A place where people willingly help one another rather than racing by or watching people struggle.  How about just opening and holding open a door for a fellow human? Then there are the robocalls and all those people pretending to care about my car warranty when I have never had one except the two times I bought a new car and then neither one of those lasted longer than the “previously owned” cars I prefer.  Would it not be something if people actually took the time to tell you what you mean to them? I would like a sign that says, “Tell me you love me like I was your kid.”  That would make me slow down for sure.

I believe that as an exercise in life, I will spend the next little while making a list of things I think would make life, the neighborhood, the state, this country and the world better.  It is not as big as climate change or world peace, but it might be a start.

Until then, I prefer the little green plastic children with red flags. I do abide by those.