Immediately after I first created RoadPeace, I was the model of perfection. I smiled for every single mile of my commute, until my cheeks hurt. I never lost my temper.

Then one day my son was hospitalized due to complications of his diabetes. I got angry at life and at circumstances. There I was, on the highways every day, two RoadPeace stickers sweetly adorning my windshield, and all the time I was thinking, "Outta my way, jerks." One afternoon after a particularly bad day, wretched with the guilt of hypocrisy, I came home and ripped off my RoadPeace stickers.

But...still, my driving demeanor was much nicer than in my pre-RoadPeace days. At least I wasn't taking out my anger on other drivers. Sure, I was doing a lot of muttering, but no dangerous or hostile stuff.

At that point, having not been perfect, I thought maybe I should just let it all go. But things calmed down, my son got well, and something kept telling me, "This is important." So, one day I stuck on two new RoadPeace stickers and renewed my commitment.

I just don't want you to think that if you blow it once or twice, that you've blown everything. Changing a habit takes time and practice. Being RoadPeaceful starts with being kind to yourself.

RoadPeace content copyright © 1997 Ann Clark. Page design copyright © 1997 Code 1 Productions.