There are myriad perspectives on the best way to get through life. Some people fear stagnation, and barrel along as fast as they can, taking every opportunity and wasting none of their time. Others who fear mental and physical overload go at a slow but steady pace, carefully weighing their every move and creating recuperative downtime. Still others fall somewhere in between, creating a successful recipe out of ingredients from both of the other worldviews.

 

Michael Gartner, editor, network news president and Pulitzer Prize winner, learned his own lesson for the best way to navigate through a happy and long life. He acquired it from his father, a man who never took left turns. Literally. He had once read an article that said most accidents involving older people happen when they turn left into oncoming traffic. That was the point at which he and his wife decided to never again make a left turn.

 

They reasoned that three right turns equal a left, and it's safer. Even when they occasionally lost count, they would just make seven rights and be back on track! If they missed after seven, they'd just call it a day and head back home. "Besides," his father reasoned, "nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."

 

Next time you feel like life's pace is moving a bit too fast, recall this sobering reminder that you have time to do things the way you want to. You've got your destination, but take a safe and enjoyable journey on your way. Maybe even get out of the car and take a walk instead. For fast relief, try slowing down!