School Bus Stop Arm - Do The Right Thing

"Just do good, don't worry about the road ahead." - Monk Wansong

August 10 marks the start of another school year in Gwinnett County, Georgia where I live. The county educates over 173,000 students and every year that number grows. With a school system this large, it also involves transporting quite a few students to and from school.

Gwinnett County Schools Transportation Department operates more than 1,900 school buses, which transport more than 127,000 students twice daily. Along with other activities, the GCPS buses travel more than 23.3 million miles annually. One can imagine this means quite a few bus stops five days out of the week.

This means watching out for those flashing red stop signs on those buses.

A 2014 study by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, statistics from 29 states found that almost 86,000 vehicles illegally passed 97,000 school buses in one day. Put in broader terms, nearly 13 million illegal passes nationally in a typical 180-day school year.

- Those kids getting on and off the bus are your kids.
- Those kids are your grand-daughters and grand-sons.
- Those kids are your nieces and nephews.
- Those kids are your friends kids.

Do you get the picture?

Please be safe out there when driving. Be patient and obey the laws. If you do not know or understand the law when coming upon a school bus stop arm, make the safe choice and stop. You might have a few car horns irritated if you got it wrong.

Better to suffer a car horn than injuring a child.

Stay inspired my friends.

Part Waters With Laughter

"I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time." - Charles M. Schulz

We can face the future with dread or take it one day at a time or one situation at a time for that matter. We do this quite often. We over-worry, over-fuss, or over-dread what is happening in our life.

Sometimes we just need to laugh and relax a little bit.

Humor can ease the tension and worry. It can have a healing effect on your life.

Sit back and laugh a little more. In fact, part the waters with your laughter.

Smile and enjoy the life you have, no matter how funny others may think it is.

And stay inspired my friends.

Adjusting To Rough Air

“Folks, we have reached our cruising altitude now, so I am going to switch the seat belt sign off. Feel free to move about as you wish, but please stay inside the plane till we land... it's a bit cold outside and if you walk on the wings it affects the flight pattern.” - Unknown

We reach points in life where we are cruising in a smooth free way. The movement being made creates a perfect flow of air across our wings. The thrust of our engine propels us towards our destination in a care free manner. We relax and unbuckle our seat belt and move about.

All the while forgetting turbulence is an unexpected moment away.

As we cruise, a perfect blend of air speed, air flow and altitude control keep us comfortable. Then all of a sudden an unexpected pocket of air disrupts the calm. The plane dips to the left or shudders in a disturbing fashion. You catch yourself by grabbing the edge of a seat.

A passing moment, nothing to worry about.

The seat belt warning light comes on indicating rough air is now expected. We should return to our seat but the last one was not so bad. We decide to remain standing. No reason to prepare, you can handle it. Then it happens, rough air begins to shake and rattle your movement.

Life just took a turn and the seat belt seems miles away.

Your first reaction is to find safety with the seat belt. You scramble to it while the plane knocks you left and right. The whole world seems to have gone into disarray. A bump on the head from hitting the overhead compartment adds to the confusion.

We reach the seat belt and strap ourselves in for a bumpy ride. The seat belt gives us a chance to evaluate the situation, to calm down and gather ourselves. We look out the window and see thunderstorm clouds around us. The thought of getting through them seems impossible.

Once we understand the obstacle, we understand what needs to be done.

It might be to fly higher to get over the rough air. It could mean changing direction to fly around the rough air. In either case, the straight and smooth path we were on is no longer viable.

Change has to occur in response to changing conditions we encounter.

We go through life encountering much of this unexpected turbulence. It catches us off guard when we least want it to. But we have to gather ourselves together and work to understand the circumstances.

Now we are able to make a decision on how best to proceed.

The safety of a seat belt has only a short term calming effect. Something needs to change. The straight and calm path you were on may not always exist. Be prepared to change your course and then keep moving.

The ride will smooth out and your destination will come into view.

Stay inspired my friends.

Rising Above Ourself

"Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves." - Mason Cooley

Each of us have witnessed on television devastating images of disasters which get reported in detail. Weather, wars, crime, accidents and all manners of natural occurrences that catch our attention. These calamities not only wreak havoc on property, they also impact peoples lives.

Take for instance the Japanese earthquake back in 2011, a large scale tsunami wreaked widespread death and destruction.

Were you moved to compassion for those people affected?

The Wednesday before this natural disaster, I was flying through Tokyo on my way home. During my four hour layover, I learned I had just missed the rumblings of an early morning earthquake. Little did I or anyone sitting around me know what was about to happen.

Yet our hearts will fill with compassion when others are hurt.

Compassion not only extends to great disasters, but can be an everyday piece of your heart. There are people all around you in need. Some more then others and some with just a little need to get them through the day.

This does not mean we have to live with hourly pain and misery upon our mind. There are those who make it their living to help others in need daily. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Compassion International and hundreds of other great organizations dedicated to helping those in need.

We can rise above ourselves and allow compassion to flow from us.

Together we can do great things, but if we start small by starting with our self simply by having compassion where its needed. We may not be able to solve many of the world's problems individually.

Starting as one, will eventually find you among others doing great things.

Stay inspired my friends.