Being a perfect mom, loving wife, and managing a functioning home while also contributing to society is no small task. It becomes even more challenging when you have several children. Peace and quiet are rarely words that can be used to describe daily life. One woman who knows this all too well is Hailey. For her, every day presents a new puzzle, and even the smallest obstacles can have significant consequences.
One morning, Hailey was on her way to work when she found herself stuck behind a slow-moving car. It took all of her self-control not to lose her temper behind the wheel. After all, Hailey was in a hurry and didn’t have time to sit idly behind a car that was going below the recommended speed limit.
But it wasn’t until she got stuck behind the same car at a red light that she noticed a note in the back window. The words written on that note made Hailey rethink her perspective on the situation.
Feeling compelled to share her experience, Hailey took to her blog, Thoughts, Dots and Tots, to write about it. She believed that the world needed to hear her story because it had changed the way she looked at things.
“As I was pulling into work, I was following this car,” Hailey wrote. “The sign in the back window said, ‘Learning stick, sorry for any delay.’ Knowing this information, I was very patient with their slow shifting, and honestly, they were doing pretty well for still learning.”
Hailey then posed a tough question to herself: Would she have been just as patient if the sign hadn’t been there? Hailey admits that her answer would likely have been no.
“We don’t know what someone is going through,” she continued. “We don’t wear signs that illustrate our personal struggles. You don’t see signs taped to people’s shirts that say, ‘Going through a divorce,’ or ‘Lost a child,’ or ‘Feeling depressed,’ or ‘Diagnosed with cancer.’ If we could visually see what others are going through, we would definitely be kinder.”
Hailey’s experience with the handwritten note in the car window had a profound impact on her. Instead of staying frustrated and annoyed, she chose to take a deep breath and practice tolerance. It was a reminder that we should treat strangers with kindness, even if we don’t know what they’re going through or if they deserve it.
Let’s take a page from Hailey’s book and try to be a little more understanding and compassionate. How many times have we felt annoyed by a late bus or someone being rude? But getting angry does not benefit anyone. Instead, let’s choose to treat others with compassion and kindness. Not only will it make us feel better, but it will also create harmony around us.
Hailey’s story serves as a powerful reminder to pause, take a deep breath, and choose kindness and understanding. Let’s spread her important message by sharing it with our friends and family on Facebook. Together, we can make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.
