Staggering

Welcome to my new expressive word, "Staggering". I like to use interesting words; I get that from my dad. He used to read the dictionary, yep, page by page. When he would use his new words, we struggled to understand what he was talking about. When questioned he would repeat the meaning, word by word from memory. Dad struggled with reading, so his solution to improve was to read the dictionary. I have never nor will I ever read the dictionary. I just like to use a word that to me has an expressive meaning. Dad would have just loved the availability of using a google search for everything his mind was curious about. 

One day, when I looked at the same red sign on the highway, I thought, it is staggering how long they leave those signs up. You know the red signs that make drivers aware they are about to hit a bad spot and to slow down or get into another lane. There is no way of knowing how bad the spot is, that remains a mystery until you are there. I am curious what determines a bad spot that requires a red sign. Were there a thousand complaints and then a red sign was put up. Or did a highway worker hit the spot and think we need a red sign to make people aware of the issues. It seems, once the sign is up, the repair can be forgotten, the sign can stay there for as long as needed. I am up and down the same roads often, and I have noticed that some of those signs have been there for a very long time, as is the hole. A red sign is probably the next best thing to a fix. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the red warning signs. Nothing is worse than losing your car in a hole. I also want to acknowledge, the people that fix the highways. It is probably one of those frustrating, thankless and never-ending jobs. 

I think it is staggering that so many people can work in a small area and never hit each other. I recently stopped at Tim Horton's. I have to say, the service is better in a car than standing at the till. But, from time to time I have to use the till and remind myself, stay in the car! As I waited to place my order and then to get my order, I watched the staff. In a very efficient way, the orders were prepared in a timely fashion. The drive-through first and then the people inside. No one ever waits on coffee, someone is constantly making it. What was staggering to me was how efficient those workers were. Everyone had their job and was doing it well. No one crashed into another person, or questioned the other person, just head down doing a job. No one even spoke, other than to scream out the order, which was heard in every corner of the building. I counted 10 people in a space the size of my living area. I know if I had been one of the ten, there would have been some crashes, messes and many "I'm sorry". Staggering.

What is the best example of staggering, is the recent action by the BC RCMP to take down the largest most sophisticated drug super lab in Canada. They found 95,500,000 lethal doses of fentanyl and other materials. The drugs were valued at a staggering $485 million. The article put it in perspective: there was enough fentanyl to give every Canadian citizen a lethal dose, twice. I can't find the words to describe the corruption and greed in the drug world. It is incomprehensible to think if this had not been stopped what would have happened. I am reminded to be grateful to the RCMP for doing what they do to keep us safe. 

Of course, there is always a quote that reminds me of the reality of life. I liked the one that said small daily improvements have staggering long-term results. I had to put some thought into what that meant. When I read up on it, I found some interesting ideas. It is suggested to get started do something manageable, that you can control. Be accountable to someone else. Accept yourself and don't allow any negative self-talk. Begin by starting a practice that includes reading, writing and learning. Some quick and easy ideas are increasing the amount of water you drink, smile, laugh and move more. One of my favorites is to spend time in nature. Commitment to just one of these small attainable habits will give you staggering results.