Like a dish or glass that slips from your hand, you know in that instant, it’s going to break. So it is in an instant that we slip, trip, stumble or otherwise fall and “have an accident”. And the most common reason “accidents” happen is because we get in a hurry.

Recently, my friend’s vibrant 84 year old mother dashed out of the house with a squirt gun to scare off a local cat and slipped, hitting her head and causing a concussion and the need for a few stitches. My sister, 50, raced in her heeled clogs across the alley in the dark to add something to the garbage can, twisted her ankle on uneven pavement and fell down, fracturing her elbow. A friend, 60, late for an appointment but needing to stop for gas, jumped out of her car, raced around the car to place the gas nozzel in the tank and slipped on a small puddle of oil, severely bruising her hip and thigh.

Each of these events happened in an instant. The pain, inconvenience, time and money (in addition to the embarrassment and self-recrimination!) could have been spared had they just slowed down.

This may sound obvious, but when we’re in a hurry, focused on a goal, we’re not paying attention to the moment. It is only in the moment that anything happens. One moment leads to the next. Being present in each moment can get us – safely – to our goal.

What I take away from these undesirable events is:

• always keep your gas tank at least half full
• know on what side of your car the gas tank resides
• move deliberately and watch where you’re going
• if it’s dark: turn on the lights
• wear sensible shoes
• don’t mess with neighborhood cats

Spontaneity and impulsiveness can be enlivening, but not at the cost of your well-being. Please be careful with your self.

Any other advice? do you have a personal story to share? Please add your comments.