better judgement

I’d like to share a story as we come into the holidays and our social commitments are higher than normal. Since it’s a time when our emotions can also run the full gambit from great anticipation and excitement to anxiety or depression, I’m happy to lend a phrase I make sure is in my days towards expectations on myself, it’s “gentle up”. Following 'gentle up' I take a deep breath in and out, shrug my shoulders and smile. It works wonders.

Almost everyone I know have more social commitments at this time of year than the juice in our energy bank. Even with the loveliness of being together with those special people in our lives, remember in traveling that traffic is higher, probably with plenty of agitation and some drinkers. You may never have an alcoholic drink and get behind the wheel but it’s important to realize that there will be others on the road that will. Please, please drive mindfully and alert. If there is social drinking, take a cab, subway, give the keys to a DD and enjoy the day.

I had a heartbreak this week when someone very close to me was sentenced to three years in a federal jail after drinking and driving that ended up in an accident that injured two people. A story immensely sad on all fronts.

A couple of drinks, little sleep and much anguish for the loss of a wife impaired his judgement terribly. Hindsight is 20/20 and if he could reverse these moments in time, oh man, would he.

Everyone knows that drinking and driving is a dangerous mix but how much does it really take to effect our better judgement. It could take very little to have an awful outcome of no ill intent for everyone involved.

I share this story to bring home a little closer that the cost of impaired driving can be so extreme and can happen to anyone. Sentencing is also more severe than it's ever been in our history of time. If you are with people that intend to get in their car after drinks please help them change their mind and not their life.

Wishing your days be filled with inspiration, lightness of heart, and immense peace.

with love, a lotus and a smile,

Gisele