THE RIGHT LANE

 I have a natural inclination to drive in the right lane. I am that one driver who rarely goes over the speed limit, cautiously keeping a safe distance between me and the other vehicles on the road. It is probably safe to say one would grow incredibly annoyed driving with me. 

This whole "right lane" obsession started once I obtained my license at 16. I was petrified to drive. I had no business being behind the wheel at that age. None. I was a mess lol. My hands would literally tremble anytime I would grace the highway. Semi trucks and merging was the absolute worst! I developed the habit of keeping to the right. I figured if I stayed to the right I would be safe from all danger.

It was not until earlier this year when I realized my love for the right lane symbolized my attachment to my comfort zone and constant need to play it safe. The left lane encompassed my fears and the unknown. 

The right lane has played a dual role in my life. 

On the upside, I am vigilant. I STAY ready.  I am always on guard of my mind, body, and spirit. I am very cautious of who and what I allow in my space. I rarely act on impulse.I am an observer by nature and an incredibly deep thinker. I assess possible outcomes from beginning to end before I make a decision. 90% of my moves are strategically planned.

Make that 95%.

I love God and my faith is the basis of who I am at the end of the day. Being a person of faith requires some levels of isolation and sanctification. There are certain roads I simply can't embark on, conversations I can never participate in., and men I can absolutely never date. I appreciate this type of divine protection and discernment.

I can't deny that a portion of my safe moves are often times fear in disguise, simply posing as protection. 

Caution protects you from actual danger. Fear pretends to protect you from what appears to be dangerous.

Precaution and fear are two separate entities,but somehow I have completely merged the two. 

I have been in three car accidents in my 11 years as a driver- all of which were absolutely not my fault, by the way! Do you know where all three of those accidents happened?

The right lane. 

Despite my quest to keep myself safe by checking my rear-view mirror at least 5 times a minute, constant use of turn signals, and keeping at least a car length distance at all times, the very thing I tried to prevent was indeed inevitable. Playing it safe does not ensure safety.

The same can be said about life.. 

The older I get the more I want to live life cautiously on the edge.

Emphasis on cautiously.

The goal is to maintain a high level of discernment without letting fear be the leader. 

Fear should never be the leader.

"Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears."- Les Brown