As time has gone on, I’ve gotten less and less concerned about the possibility of my own death, which I honestly would not have anticipated as a youngster.
I expected the process of my own gradual aging to be coupled with an “equally-gradual” concern for my own self-preservation, but frankly, the reality is quite a leap from my initial assumption.
I’ve begun playing more “fast and loose” with my life. For example, back in the day, if I was driving on a narrow two-lane road through a residential neighborhood, I’d give the cars facing me the right-of-way by pulling to the side in areas where only one car could squeeze through. Nowadays, *if I’m the only one in the car, and if there’s a car driving towards me, rather than giving them the right-of-way, as I would do in years prior, I’ll instead play “hogs of the road,” which is basically a game of “chicken.” I’ve never lost. It’s real horrorshow.
Whenever there’s anybody in the car with me, however, I’m significantly more cautious.
Perhaps, I perceive my riders as precious cargo, while only valuing my own existence as equal to the life of the car itself.
It’s as if my riders are priceless, but I myself carry the same worth as a 2010 Ford Fusion SE with an expired registration and the “service engine soon” light on.
Might as well enjoy myself.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder
