EXPIRED

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong? You will NEVER guess what happened to me today.  I had the opportunity to visit with a nice police officer who informed me that I had expired plates on my car.  It was a valuable lesson that taught me about responsibility and the importance of staying on top of mundane tasks.

I was driving my vehicle, minding my own business, when all I see in my rearview mirror are lights.  I quickly turned my blinker on and pulled over into the next available parking lot. My heart sank as I quickly thought if I had done anything wrong.  It didn't take long for the police officer to inform me that my license plates were expired.  Ironically, my daughter and her fiancé, got pulled over for expired plates two days before.  

In that moment, I felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration.  How could I have let something as simple as renewing my plates slip through the cracks? I hadn't gotten a reminder in my email or a letter as I normally had in the past.  I simply never thought about looking at the date on my plates.  As the officer wrote me a ticket, I couldn't help but reflect on where I had gone wrong.

It wasn't just about forgetting to renew my plates; it was about taking responsibility for all aspects of my life, no matter how small they may seem.  It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, but neglecting important tasks like renewing my plates can have real consequences, such as a fine I am ordered to pay. 

Getting pulled over served as a wake-up call for me.  It reminded me that staying organized and proactive is essential, even when it comes to seemingly simple tasks.  I have gotten my emissions test and renewed my plates online, I will still need to show for my court date for an additional fine. I learned an important lesson about prioritizing responsibility in all areas of my life.  My discovery is that small oversights can have big expensive lessons learned.