The way I see it, life is just a game of Red Light/Green Light. You go through the motions. You follow the rules. You try to live your life right. Be kind to others, etcetera. Sometimes you get the green light go ahead. Sometimes you are stopped dead in your tracks by the red light. There is no manual. You ride the ups and downs as best you can on this roller coaster of life.
You choose a career. You work hard in those classes. Make the grades and go to the interviews. You take the lesser paid/desired jobs to get your foot in the door. Finally, you land your dream job! You put in those extra hours you are not nearly paid for. You work to establish respect and trust among your boss, colleagues, parents, and students. You ride the crest of accolades, nominations for awards, parent and student adoration, strong community ties, solid evaluations from your boss, and colleagues seeking advice and mentoring. You are doing exactly the job you were made for. You make a difference in lives every day. You are dedicated and passionate. Green light! Times change and politics intervene. You fight for what you believe in in spite of the beliefs of family and friends. But your hand is forced and you have to make a change.
You find yourself in a new building, new boss, new colleagues, and a new community to prove yourself to. Despite eighteen years of experience under your belt, you are low man on the totem pole. No more glowing evaluations. No more mentoring. Hostile territory, jealous colleagues. Judgement and intolerance. Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore. Red light! So you cut an admirable career short. You find other job opportunities that don't threaten your very sanity
Girl meets boy next door. Girl has a crush. They grow up and boy re-meets girl. They go through the motions. Dating, falling in love, meeting the parents, getting engaged, and a beautiful wedding with all the trimmings. Life as a couple moves along. Jobs, houses, cars, friendships, family, and holidays. You wake up one morning and think about how lucky you are. Green light! The very next day your world crashes to the ground. You lay on the cold, hard floor listening to the phone messages of concerned friends and family. You stay curled up in a ball wondering where you went wrong. The perfect life you so carefully built was all a lie. Your trust and loyalty was matched with betrayal and deceit. A scarlet D is stamped on your forehead. Red light.
One hot evening, on the last night of July, you find yourself celebrating a summers' end at a local bar. The new school year is just around the corner with the promise of a like-minded, fun, new teammate. You are several drinks in, exchanging get to know you stories, and reassuring her there is still plenty of time to obsess about her new job and setting up her classroom. Life is good. Green light! A phone call suddenly changes life as you know it. Nothing will ever be the same again. A cold, harsh wind of reality takes your breath away. It teaches you to never take anything for granted ever again. A beloved family member lies in a sterile hospital bed, broken. Four long months of agony lie ahead. You watch helplessly, offering your presence, support, and an undying love that pierces right through your heart. Red light!
You start over again. You learn to love again. You learn to trust again. It is a whirlwind romance that is shocking to some. Hearts and flowers. Long distance love letters. A surprise proposal. Green light! A painstakingly slow move to the same state. The chaos of a demanding job ensues. You are living together, but are worlds apart. There is a lack of mutual respect, a lack of understanding and mutual goals. You come home one day to empty closets. There was no warning, no conversation. A dear John letter arrives three months later. You realize it was all a lie. Another betrayal. Another trust shattered into a thousand shards. Red light!
No one ever told us life was going to be easy. It does not matter the cards you are dealt. It maters what you do with them, and how you respond. I have chosen to savor the green lights, and bounce back from the red lights. Stand tall. Be the better person. I have a sensitive soul, and sensitive souls will get pushed down, disappointed, hurt, and betrayed. However, in this life, for every red light slammed door, a green light open door of new possibilities awaits.
About the Creator
Lisa Brasher
Start writing...I am a retired teacher. I taught elementary school for 30 years. I have written. short. stories and poems . I. am. looking. to. become. a full. time writer. . I live. in ,Houston Texas.
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