Rushing through life creates peril for all

I am a slave to caffeine. I will admit it. I crave Red Bull even after a restful night.

Starbucks, Monster, Rock Star and every other sugar-packed energy drink has been marketed like mad to keep everyone going and going.

You can find their labels slapped across the helmets of motocross racers and atop the hoods of race cars.

It’s the best kind of subliminal messaging: the in-your-face kind.

The kind that exhausts you into thinking, “I can use one of those right about now.” So why is everyone in such a hurry?

I never understood the phrase, “There aren’t enough hours in the day.” As a kid, the days dragged on forever. An hour of extended playtime was a brand new adventure. Now it seems the best way to get by is to hurry through life’s obstacles.

Take, for instance, the recent snowfall Amarillo fell victim to. The city of Amarillo did its best to clear main roads so citizens would be safe while traveling about their busy days. But it helped only those who took the time to actually “drive safely.”

For many, as soon as they catch a glimpse of paved road beneath a sheet of white, it becomes all hands on deck. The accelerator, unfortunately, folks, is not your friend on ice.

Everywhere you go these days, people are rushing about from one place to another and from one project to the next. Anything worth doing is worth doing right? Hasn’t that always been good practice?

On Feb. 2, USA Today reported that since 2003, 65,000 airplanes had taken off with maintenance or mechanical problems. For the safety of all boarding passengers, no small detail or mechanism malfunction should be overlooked. Some jobs require more tender love and care.

But putting people in the air so they can reach their destinations in a timely manner is a priority. After all, airplanes are run on a tight schedule, and no one enjoys delays.

Everyone has their own schedule of events. Sleep now is considered overrated. Clinical studies show that eight hours of sleep a night may be too much. Now, 6.5 to 7.5 hours a night are more ideal. Is that true for the average person, however, or is society only creating ways to provide more time in the day?

I know that for me, it is ideal to have at least seven hours of sleep; but sadly, it isn’t always possible, in which case I will reach for a Red Bull.

But when I feel like the world is spinning faster than I can keep up with, I hit the brake, check my mechanics and get a good night’s rest.

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