My Dirty Secret and Deadly Habit

I'm outing myself.  I'm going to be accountable.  It's not just that I text while driving, I am worse than that.  I use the Panera Bread app to order my food while in route to pick it up.  I play Bubble Witch at stop lights.  One of my family members took out a mailbox texting and driving.  They spent an entire Saturday replacing and setting up a new mailbox, then bought the family dinner.  The shock and horror..."what if that had been a kid? ".  We all let that sink in and said never again.  We considered ourselves lucky no one was hurt.  Fast forward to a month later.  That mailbox incident is a faint memory and no longer a reminder it has to stop.  We have 2 family businesses and we often expect to get each other immediately.  We've lost sight of the need to respect there are times we can't be available to one another.  This immediate need to connect the minute one of us has a goal to accomplish is just the gateway drug.  That has led us all to be desensitized to using the phone while driving.  All of us.  Appalling and unacceptable.  Stop light?  Ooo, let me check that text message.  Got an hour commute?  Let me clean out my inbox and return calls.  Time for lunch?  Why wait, let me order now so it's a quick scoop.  We know what we're doing is wrong, but we haven't stopped.  

​My friend is a funeral director and mortician.  She was recently brought to her knees.  She is a calm and collected woman.  She's always poised and composed.  To hear her tailspin so badly and reach out to me, several states away when she has a strong group of confidante's all around her, well.  It's a direct message, I believe.  A message I was meant to receive.  She's opened many body bags, but this day was to be different.  We've talked several times since these particular body bags arrived at her business.  Actually, we've mostly cried together.  Mother, 40, daughter 13, son 10, son's friend 11...all have seen their last sunset.  The other daughter 8 was severely injured and hospitalized, unable to breath on her own.  There was a 7 year old also in the vehicle who fortunately doesn't have any injuries.  Their vehicle ran full speed into the back of a semi truck on an interstate.  Mom was texting and driving.  An entire community is devastated.  I can't get their faces out of my mind.  I can't share specific info with you, out of respect for the discretion of my friend's business.  I sure want to, though.  I want you to see this beautiful family and these precious kids.  I want this story to impact any and every one who texts and drives.  

​I had a family meeting.  My hope is it resonates for all of us.  The mailbox incident didn't stick with us.  This family's story HAS to.  It absolutely HAS to.  We've made our pledge.  It's been a full week today.  I have not touched my phone while driving.  It stays in my purse and anyone who needs me can wait until I'm out from behind the driver's wheel for a response.  No exceptions.   I know it's too early to act like I've made a positive permanent change in my behavior.  It's just something I'm sharing now for accountability and awareness.  When I'm serious about anything, I put it in writing.  So it is said.