Take note of warning signs

The other weekend, my family and I took a trip to the countryside.

About three months ago, we had taken a similar trip and had got stuck at an ungodly hour when our car experienced mechanical problems.

This time round, we were more careful and when our events of that day ended after nightfall, we opted to spend the night.

There was yet another function awaiting us in town the following day, and we woke up at the crack of dawn.

As much as I wanted us to make it in good time, I found myself applying imaginary breaks whenever I thought the driver was too fast or the car was losing control, and this kept him in check.

I am naturally a slow driver and I know most of my apprehension was needless, but one cannot be too careful.

In my decade of driving, I have realised that the possibility of you getting to your destination depends on the condition of your vehicle, your status of mind and how careful you are.

If  you react quickly when driving, you can prevent an accident in the nick of time.

Good drivers can always tell when their car is “sick” and needs attention.

By feeling its mood, you have a chance to prevent serious damage to the vehicle and avoid painful financial setbacks.

Time and again, I like to draw parallels with driving and real life situations.

For instance, if you are in tune with your body, mind, career and marriage, you are able to react more rationally to difficult  situations.

Then you can avoid grave repercussions, sometimes even death.

Of course, you can choose to ignore the warnings at your peril.  But that errant behaviour from your child speaks volumes, and needs to be tamed if your child is to turn out right. That little growth on your body that you want to assume is just another pimple could be the beginning of your journey with cancer.

That job dissatisfaction that repeatedly engulfs you could be the genesis of your depression and general apathy towards your livelihood.

That smirk on your friend’s face could be the start of a major fallout between the two of you.

Is it not interesting that when someone close dies due to suicide or other causes, you will conduct a postmortem — both medical and otherwise — and with a sudden awareness, you will realise that something was off before the time of their death. That smile was not quite right, that tone of voice was wanting, you will recall.

Nothing happens out of the blue.

There are always warning signs, telling signs that we choose to ignore.

Sometimes, in denial, we hope an issue will go away or change by itself.

When we are still hoping, life happens and the worst comes to reality.

If you chose to listen to what is happening around you, you will be surprised at just how much your paying attention to those little things can save you lots of heartache.