Life is Like a Traffic Light
Swen Nater

It’s almost 2011. Have you made your new year’s resolution yet? Here’s an idea based on the hypothesis, “Life is Like a Traffic Light.” When you approach a traffic light—red, yellow, or green—remember it is there to help you arrive at your destination safely and successfully. In this way, I believe a traffic light at an intersection is a microcosm of life.  The following three principles for success in life work for anyone, especially a young person.

Red Light (Learn How to Say “No”)
Red means “Stop.” When you stop for a red light, you are keeping yourself safe and out of trouble.

Those who know what they believe in and what they don’t believe in, have established boundaries for their behavior. When they say “No” to something that is diametrically opposed to one or more of their convictions, they strengthen those boundaries. At the beginning of this process, some guilt may be felt because of hurting others’ feelings, but that is usually short-lived. The joy of saying “No” takes over as they realize saying “No” gains the respect of others and also self-respect. Self-respect is the foundation of setting boundaries. It’s a cycle that keeps going until the temptation becomes the condition and saying “No” becomes the automatic and self-satisfying response. 

Make it a project to say, “No,” to something every day.
Linda D. Tillman, PhD

Yellow Light (Learn Who to Trust)
Yellow means “Caution.” When you are in the intersection and see a yellow traffic light, it is telling you to proceed with caution. In other words, don’t trust the drivers waiting to enter the intersection from the other way. 

In life, you will become like those you associate with. Many make the mistake of making “friends” too quickly. By the time they discover those “friends” are not good people, they find they have become a little like them. Take the advice Polonius gave his son, Laertes, in Macbeth, as he encouraged him to make strong friendships with people, but only after they have passed the test.    
 
“The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.”

Green Light (Learn to Do Your Best at Something)
Green means “Go.” When that light turns green, it means you are free to proceed to your destination.

Make your “destination” something worthwhile, meaningful, and great, by developing a talent or skill you discover you have.  Make the effort to become all you can be in that endeavor. “Go” for perfection, knowing you won’t ever reach it. When you do, you will find you are very, very close to greatness.

For who can ask more of a man,
Than giving all within his span?
Giving all, it seems to me,
Is not so far from Victory.
George Moriarty, Major League Umpire