I was driving around in the city today, and witnessed a close call. The driver in front of me pulled out into traffic and came about 12 inches from colliding with another vehicle. My passenger pointed out that the driver an elderly man, and this sparked a minor debate bewteen us. We bantered back and forth:

Passenger: “Old people need to take a driving test!”

Me: “Isn’t that discrimination?”

Passenger: “But they can’t drive!”

Me: “Well there’s a lot of people that can’t drive.  Besides we all make mistakes.”

Passenger: “Well, then, everyone needs to take a test every two years!”

Me: “And who’s going to pay for that?”

Passenger: “People will when they go to get their license.”

Me: “Do you think that’s feasible?  What about homeless people, people who don’t have jobs or can’t afford it?”

Passenger: “Well homeless people don’t have cars.”

*Sigh*

So, what’s your opinion?  Do you think people should be required to pass periodic driving tests?

I know there are some that will ask, “Why? Who cares? Life is fine now…why change it?” Or they may think it is not going to make much of a difference anyway, so why bother.

Let’s think about the word stagnant. Dictionary.com defines stagnant as “characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement.” What if society had remained stagnant for the last 100 years? With a lack of development, there would be no electricity to light up our nights. With a lack of advancement, there would be no sleek cell phones to enhance the way we communicate. Without progressive movement, there would be no vehicles with safety features to help protect us.

No Google.  No Uber.  No Yelp.  No Facebook.  No Snapchat.  No Twitter.  You wouldn’t be reading this.  Or anything on the internet, for that matter.  But because people wanted change–wanted improvement–these things are now available to us today.

Remaining stagnant would keep us from dreaming, inventing, and creating. Remaining stagnant would eliminate opportunities to improve our lives or our future generation’s lives.

So, I challenge you to defy stagnance! Make something—do something—be something better. A hobby could turn into a million dollar business. An interest could turn into a cure for disease. An idea could turn into a a way to change society today.

Maya Angelou, a famous author and poet, has a voice that speaks to me. I offer some of her thoughts to you:

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”

• I am a believer in doing the best you can with what you have, but always striving to know more, not HAVE more.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

• Take just a few minutes out of your day to make someone feel special.  Call your mom and tell her you love her.  Ask your child to tell you about his day.  Stop by your neighbor’s house and see if they need some help with anything.  Great acts of kindness don’t have to be big!

“I can be changed by what happens to me.  But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

• Yes, bad things happen to us sometimes.  We have all been hurt or felt wronged, but don’t let it make you a victim, rather, be victorious!  Be determined to have a bad situation help you be smarter and stronger.

“Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.”

• Remember that you are a priority to God.  People may disappoint you, but you will never be disappointed with God’s grace.

“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I rise!”

• If someone hurts you, don’t be vindictive…

“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. “

• …because it isn’t going to make things better.

“Stepping onto a brand new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.”

• For women who are in abusive relationships, this is a must remember!  Yes, it is hard to break free from what has become routine and “comfortable,” but there is so much more to life than hanging around in a demeaning relationship.  Get out, find yourself, and with God’s help, you can be fulfilled, and maybe even inspire others along the way!

Pick one of these phrases that touches you the most.  Write it down or memorize it and carry it in your thoughts today. When a difficult situation arises, remember your phrase act on it, and help make the situation better.  Though some things you just can’t change, you can always change your reaction for the better.  And that’s how it all starts–change society, one person at a time.