For several years, I carpooled my kids to school every day. The school was on the route I took to get to work. I adjusted my departure time to mesh with their start time. Then, it was just a matter of timing it with the buses to get in and drop-off the kids as efficiently as possible. I pride myself on efficiency.
The drop-off process was straight-forward. Pull into the parking lot and make your way all of the way around the outside until you reach the front of the building. At that point, you stop and let the kids out to go on their way into school. It was simple, but not very efficient.
In my eyes, it would have been much faster to cut across the lot instead of driving all around the circumference of the lot. Besides, I arrived for the drop-off earlier than most and the lot wasn’t crowded. Since I wasn’t cutting anyone off or putting anyone at risk, I began to cut off a chunk of the parking lot. This short cut enabled me to get in and out much more quickly.
Do Your Part
Cutting through the parking lot became my routine. On one particular morning, I was waived to stop by a teacher on the way out of the lot. They were on duty to monitor the parking lot. The teacher said something like, “Would you mind following the traffic pattern? It makes it simpler and safer for everyone.” To which I curtly replied, “Sure.”
As I left the parking lot, I felt like I should have been mad, but I wasn’t. Instead, I felt bad. I was struck by disappointment. I had taken matters into my own hands and selfishly put my desire to go faster in front of everyone else’s morning drop-off plan. Right there, I realized the error of my ways. If we all decided we know best, the parking lot, and a lot of other areas in life, would turn into chaos.
I want to keep that experience in the front of my mind as we re-open our country from the coronavirus. I don’t like all of the rules being put in place, yet I have to trust the rules are being put there to keep us safe and to avoid chaos. If I do not like the rule, I have the choice to voice my displeasure with those making the rules or run for office to be a rule-maker. Just deciding to not follow the rules is dishonest and lacks integrity. I take great pride in my honesty and integrity.
Agreement is not a Requirement
There are a lot of rules and laws to which I do not agree. I challenge them all of the time. I don’t like seat belts. Speed limits seem too low. Crosswalks tend to be inconvenient. Content on the Internet is right there for the taking. Yet, we follow these rules because they are in effect to protect ourselves and others from physical, financial, or emotional harm. The rule of law protects the most vulnerable among us.
As I transition to a social distancing environment outside my home, I plan to comply with the rules as they are posted for us. Some of these rules, like the school parking lot, do not make much sense to me. But the rules aren’t just about me, are they? The stipulations may infringe on my comfort or freedoms, but I also realize my freedoms end where other people’s freedoms begin. That is why I believe so strongly in the role of our police and military. They fight for us to maintain our freedoms.
People around me are counting on me to do my part and follow the rules to keep them safe. I plan to follow the rules. I hope you can join me.
all good points, Dean!
“You’re doing it wrong!” – The Jack Butler Method — Mr. Mom