Concise Advice – Pay Attention to the Signs

Concise Advice is a new feature which focuses on shorter articles with powerful messages.  Here is the first installment…

So, I was on a quest tonight for Pistachio Custard Ice Cream.  It's my favorite and it's been two years since I've had it, but I got an email that a local establishment was serving it this week.  After visiting the hospital tonight, we tried everything we could to make it to this establishment before it closed at 11pm. 

After getting stuck at the first ten lights (yes, I'm slow to catch on) I started thinking that the Universe was conspiring against me in my "noble" quest. 

Not to be deterred, I did the only smart thing and that was to drive even faster and blow the yellow lights while scaring the wits out of my better half.  As we drove into Blasdell my heart sank when we got stopped at the train tracks….and the train wasn't moving…at all.  It was stuck on the tracks. 

I actually thought at that moment that perhaps it wasn't meant to be and I should just turn around and go home.  But after writing about Persistence in my Bamboo Success article, I knew that if I wanted it bad enough, I could get my Pistachio Custard Ice Cream.

So, more insane driving and road rage ensued and we did manage to get our ice cream prior to the store closing.  Now that I sit here with sober mind (and a stomach ache) I realize that I was completely blind to what the Universe was trying to teach me.  Persistence is great but not at the expense of putting your loved one's life in danger, and the cause, though seemingly good at the time, was really stoopit.

It reminds me of a passage in a Paulo Coelho book where he describes situations like these as messages from your guardian angel to keep you out of danger (perhaps avoiding an accident).  He suggests in those instances, pulling the car over and counting to thirty to aid your guardian in his task.  More than likely, you will avoid that accident, and also do well to calm yourself. 

Who knew that something so tasty could be so dangerous?