Texting while driving is fatal. This concept has been drilled into our heads even before we first entered the roads. I would never be so negligent. I would never take the innocent life of another individual. These thoughts race through my mind as I check my navigation screen to ensure that I am making the right turn. I don’t like this route, so I quickly recalculate it. Nothing could possibly happen in the few seconds that my eyes abandon the road. Satisfied with the current route, I sing my heart out to the newly released Luke Combs song, unaware of my surroundings and the sounds in the distance. It’s hard to believe that individuals actually text and drive; people can be so irresponsible. 

I am well acquainted with this erroneous state of mind which reasons that texting while driving is the only fatal form of distracted driving. I have experienced it firsthand on countless occasions. Yet, when I was younger, I would have never dared to take my eyes off of the road. I would have never gambled with my life. However, something must have changed within the years to allow me to reach this current point of comfort in which I reason that nothing will happen.

Although I have listened to the lectures of my parents when my older siblings first attained their licenses and again when I finally earned mine, I have still engaged in these reckless behaviors. Perhaps I have become numb to these dangers because I have been so fortunate in the past. Too frequently, I forget, or simply overlook, the fact that texting behind the wheel is not the only form of distracted driving. Various other habits cause motorists to take their focus off of the road, increasing the dangers in these situations. Therefore, if I had the opportunity to speak to my younger self, I would ensure that these dangers never resulted from my carelessness. 

It becomes paramount to terminate this distracted driving altogether as it is worsening, rather than improving. In the period between 2009 and 2013 alone, Illinois was home to more than 6,000 accidents in which the driver was handling a cell phone when the accident occurred (https://www.sgklawyers.com/blog/2018/06/car-accidents-fatality.shtml). Thus, even if the driver’s attention is diverted for only a few seconds, this is long enough to change a life forever. Although many young individuals maintain this mindset that nothing serious can happen this quickly, they fail to realize that death is indiscriminate. I would inform my younger self that death can happen to any of us at any time; we are not invulnerable.

In my younger years, I remember watching my uncle struggle with alcohol abuse. His speech would become slurred and his love quickly turned to hatred. Oftentimes, he would stumble through the front door late at night, unable to find his balance. My pity for my uncle at this point in my life exemplified my true naivety. I failed to realize that he was not only endangering himself, but the lives of countless others as soon as the liquor hit his lips. By allowing this substance to take control of his body, he gambled with his future each and every time he consciously allowed that key to turn the ignition. He made the choice to be irresponsible and reckless, unconcerned with the rest of the world. Thus, I would ensure that my younger self understood the risks associated with drunken driving. When individuals drive while intoxicated, they jeopardize much more than their own lives. 

Moreover, I would convince myself to spend that quality time with my father that he so desperately yearned for. This was the time that he desired before my friends took this time away from him and my shifts at work replaced our weekend outings. In this time, I would discover that he had valuable lessons to teach, such as learning to change a tire and being aware of the pressure within them. In these moments, I would have learned that it is essential not to speed in the summer months when the weather becomes scorching (https://www.sgklawyers.com/blog/2018/07/tire-blowouts.shtml). This quality time together would not only have translated to a greater bonding experience between the two of us, but I would be able to travel more cautiously and confidently. 

Likewise, I would convey the significance of keeping your eyes on the road at all times because death has no time limit. In fact, it happens faster than I may have previously believed. Formerly, I believed that focusing on my navigation system was equivalent to focusing on the road. However, it becomes obvious that these systems can often lead you to take illegal actions, such as turning when it is not possible. Yet, when the driver consciously chooses to follow these directions, even if they are illegal, the driver is at fault and can be penalized (https://www.sgklawyers.com/blog/2018/05/faulty-gps-system.shtml). Therefore, it now becomes more important to concentrate on the road and to be aware of my surroundings. I must be able to perceive the signs on the road as well as any barriers. 

Ultimately, I would ensure that my younger self understood that when I enter the car and begin my journey on the road, I must understand that I have my own life as well as the lives of innumerable others in my hands. The fate of a single missed stop sign or red light can prove to be dire. I must be vigilant and focused. Ultimately, these steps may not be monumental, but they may save a single life, and that is more than I could ever hope for. 

Still, it is essential to note that I am not reminding my younger self of these actions for me. Rather, I am doing it for the individuals in this world who deserve so much more. I am taking these steps because the mother who struggled to conceive her miracle baby deserves to watch her family flourish. The teenage girl deserves a mother who will help her through her first heartbreak and show the unconditional love that only a mother can surrender. The father who just won his battle with cancer deserves to watch his child graduate from high school.My parents deserve to witness the success that I will embody one day, the success that they have sacrificed so much for. My future occupational therapy clients deserve the opportunity to define themselves by their accomplishments and not by their limitations. Thus, I would tell my younger self that these distractions which arise while driving can wait, but the certainty of tomorrow cannot. 

Texting while driving is fatal. This concept has been drilled into our heads even before we first entered the roads. In fact, it is so fatal that is has been banned by 46 of the 50 states, as well as Guam and Puerto Rico (https://ankinlaw.com/textalyzer-app-distracted-driving/). Thus, I would never be so negligent. I would never take the innocent life of another individual. These thoughts race through my mind as I crank my radio up. I don’t like the song that’s currently playing, so I quickly glance at my phone and press the skip button. Nothing could possibly happen in the few seconds that my eyes abandon the road. Satisfied with the current selection, I sing my heart out to the newly released Luke Combs song, unaware of my surroundings and the sounds in the distance. It’s hard to believe that individuals actually text and drive; people can be so irresponsible. 

I am well acquainted with this erroneous state of mind which reasons that texting while driving is the only fatal form of distracted driving. I have experienced it firsthand on countless occasions. I have listened to the lectures of my parents when my older siblings first attained their licenses and again when I finally earned mine. However, we too frequently recognize that texting while driving is dangerous, but then replace it with other careless behaviors. Too often we forget, or simply overlook, the fact that texting behind the wheel is not the only form of distracted driving. Various other habits cause motorists to take their focus off of the road, increasing the dangers in these situations. It becomes paramount to terminate these behaviors altogether as 431,000 individuals were severely injured and 3,179 lost their lives in 2014 alone due to distracted driving (https://ankinlaw.com/dangers-of-distracted-driving/). Even if the driver’s attention is diverted for only a few seconds, this is long enough to change a life forever. Although many young individuals maintain this mindset that nothing serious can happen this quickly, they fail to realize that death is indiscriminate. It can happen to any of us at any time; we are not invulnerable.

Therefore, I began to analyze my own driving habits as well as those of my family members. Through these efforts, a sense of shame transpired as a result of the reckless actions that we have taken behind the wheel. We have absentmindedly allowed countless situations to take our attention. Still, a larger sense of gratitude was experienced as we were fortunate enough not to have injured ourselves or anyone else in this process. I have recognized that I am certainly not invincible, nor can I escape death. For these reasons, when I am behind the wheel, my undevoted attention must be fixated on the road. Therefore, I have made the decision to make the road a safer place by promoting a safety plan for myself as well as the members of my family.

From this point forward, when any member of my family, including myself, enters the car and begins the journey on the road, we must understand that we have our own lives as well as the lives of innumerable others in our hands. The fate of a single missed stop sign or red light can prove to be dire. We must be vigilant and focused. In fact, while my family has incessantly lectured on the irresponsibility of texting and driving, I have recently learned that they have their own faults. Frequently, they allow their bosses to take their concentration, even when driving. They feel as though they cannot allow their bosses to wait and that their needs are most important. Yet, they are not alone as 38 percent of employees believe that it is necessary for them to be reached at any time by the phone (https://ankinlaw.com/distracted-driving-for-work/). Thus, this safety plan will involve informing my parents that these calls can wait. Their lives are far more important than an appointment or a missed business lunch.

Moreover, we must remember to keep our eyes on the road at all times because death has no time limit. In fact, it happens faster than I may have previously believed. Personally, it now becomes more important to turn the music down and to be aware of my surroundings. I must be able to perceive the sound of an ambulance or cop car in the distance because I am not the only one who matters; I am not indestructible.

Likewise, my family and I have always enjoyed talking. We often believe it is necessary to make eye contact in order to convey that we are truly listening. This eye contact has entered the car with us. Often, we have become so encompassed in our conversations that we have missed a turn, or even ran a stop sign. We have not only put our own lives in danger, but the lives of other innocent individuals have been risked as well. As a result, it becomes significant that we transfer this attention to the road before we lose this opportunity to make this change.

Ultimately, these steps for my family may not be monumental, but they may save a single life, and that is more than I could ever hope for. Still, as I take these first steps, it is essential to note that I am not taking them for me. Rather, I am taking them for the individuals in this world who deserve so much more. I am making these changes because my brother deserves the chance to raise his daughter and watch her take her first steps. My sister deserves to marry the man of her dreams and to plan the wedding that she has dreamed of since she was a little girl. My parents deserve to witness the success that I will embody one day, the success that they have sacrificed so much for. My future occupational therapy clients deserve the opportunity to define themselves by their accomplishments and not by their limitations. Thus, these distractions which arise while driving can wait, but the certainty of tomorrow cannot. 

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

When we think of our elder family members, love and compassion come to mind. We only want the best for them. We wish to shower them with the adoration and appreciation that they have surrendered to us throughout all of these years. We want to act as the nourishment which allows them to flourish. Thus, as they reach the point in their lives in which they can no longer care for themselves on a daily basis, it becomes vital that they find a new setting where they feel most comfortable. This setting must exemplify the same sense of confidence and satisfaction that their previous houses did, a home away from home in a sense. Yet, too frequently these nursing homes become the setting in which these individuals feel neither comfort nor confidence, but neglect and fear. Accordingly, it is essential that these nursing homes act as a center of refuge for these aging individuals. When this is accomplished, it becomes possible for them to endure the same sense of tenderness and kind-heartedness that they have embodied throughout the years.

As individuals enter nursing homes, we trust the caregivers in this setting. We rely on the individuals in these facilities to provide the same care that we would if we were able to. However, recently these services have been diminishing along with the trust that we assign to these caregivers and residential homes. For instance, as individuals age, they become more likely to forget the tasks associated with daily living, such as eating a meal or drinking water, which are both necessary for a vigorous existence. In these cases, it becomes vital that these individuals are reminded to drink water to ensure that they avoid fatal conducts, such as seizures, kidney failure, and even comas (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). However, it is projected that approximately 500 nursing home residents perish each year from dehydration alone (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/).

Still, there are symptoms of dehydration that can be monitored. Elder individuals should be examined daily to ensure not only that these symptoms are nonexistent, but that the individuals are healthy. Factors such as heart rate, inability to urinate, and insomnia often correlate with dehydration (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). In other cases, disabilities which limit both motor and mental functioning often result in the absence of these symptoms altogether (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-dehydration/). Therefore, it becomes more important that the caregivers assess these residents each and every day to ensure that they are healthy and happy. When these caregivers are in touch with their clients and understand their basic needs and standards, they become more likely to recognize these symptoms before fatalities occur. 

Moreover, sexual assault within nursing homes has become a swelling epidemic. These vulnerable individuals who trust their caregivers are often taken advantage of and are left feeling helpless following the tragedy. In fact, of the individuals who suffer from these assaults over the age of 65, only 30 percent report the incident (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-sexual-assault/). Even more disheartening, 80% of the offenders are the caregivers who are expected to nurture and support these individuals (https://coganpower.com/blog/nursing-home-sexual-assault/).

Thus, in order to ensure that these conflicts never transpire and that these individuals are never made into victims, various steps must be taken. As these elder individuals reside in nursing homes, they should be examined before and after caregivers enter the room. Areas such as the pelvic region, thighs, and genitals should be examined to ensure that these individuals are never made to feel threatened or defenseless. In all cases, the caregivers should be required to pass a background check and be monitored within their first months at the facility. If possible, the caregiver should always be accompanied when he or she enters the room with the resident. These steps may save an individual from becoming a victim and feeling as though he or she is helpless. 

Lastly, cameras within the resident’s room may prove to be beneficial to both the resident and the family. These cameras may not only protect victims from abuse, but from neglect and theft as well (https://coganpower.com/blog/should-illinois-require-nursing-homes-to-use-cameras/). By installing these cameras, the question of whether residents are properly cared for is eliminated and it is made certain that these residents feel comfortable and confident in this facility. The institution of these cameras will not only lessen the abuse which takes place, but it maintains the potential to nullify it altogether.

Ultimately, the uncertainty rests not in whether nursing homes have the ability to become safer, but in when they will become safer. These facilities must become spaces in which these individuals feel as though they can relax and reflect in their elder years. This time should not be spent dwelling upon the apprehension and fear that this setting brings. Thus, it is essential for these steps to be taken in order to ensure that nursing homes act as eternal sanctuaries of health and happiness. In this way, these nursing homes will provide the nourishment which allows these elder individuals to flourish into the everlasting embodiment of confidence and bliss, the nourishment that we have so desperately sought to provide them with.