Overtaking trucks

As a driver of 7+ years I can officially say I dislike the fact that heavy goods vehicles are allowed to drive on the roads during daylight/working hours! (No offence if you are a HGV driver haha. I have nothing against you, just your truck!)

The other day I was driving home from work behind a very slow truck, waiting for the opportunity to overtake it at a point where the road split from one to two lanes.

When that moment arose I pressed my foot down on the accelerator and zoomed past the giant motor.

I was so relieved I could finally get on with my journey home at a speed faster than a snail!?

"These trucks are so annoying...." I thought to myself. 

Just moments after this thought crossed my mind, so did a couple others.

Firstly, the truck (assuming it was fully loaded) would have been carrying a lot more in its vehicle than most other vehicles on the road at that time.

  • The heavier an object, the more energy/effort it takes to move it. Even my (basic) car takes a while to get going when I have 4 passengers, opposed to the times when it's just me and my handbag, let alone a truck. (Side note: I am sure that once upon a time in GSCE physics I learnt some kind of equation to back this... but couldn't tell you for sure!?)
Secondly, the truck was not in competition with me.

  • As much as I was happy with my successful overtaking attempt,  the truth is that it was not a race. The truck was most definitely not coming to my house, and I certainly was not going to its destination. We were finishing in different locations, and with different objectives.

It got me thinking about my life and how certain circumstances have got me moving much slower than I would have hoped at this stage in life. I feel like I am carrying a lot (ideas, dreams, goals), things that haven't been fulfilled and this weighs me down sometimes. It seems that my peers/cohort/even those younger than me are overtaking me and it's frustrating to watch at times.

But I was reminded in this moment that it doesn't actually matter! It is all relative.

I am the truck. 
Carrying my own load. 
Driving at my own pace. 
Headed in the right direction for me.

If you can relate, then let me encourage you the way this encouraged me. 

One final word: A friend of mine reminded me of the fable of The Tortoise And The Hare a few days ago. The moral of that story? Slow and steady wins the race :)

Thats a good moral for this blog too!


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