I am not proud of the fact that the police have pulled me over three times in the last 18 months for “exceeding the posted speed limit.” I’m not sure why, but instead of getting the ticket I deserved, I was let go with a warning each time. Two weeks ago when I was pulled over a fourth time, I figured that my luck had finally run out.

My friend Susan Osbeck and I were on our way back to her hotel after an evening out. The officer who pulled me over informed me that I had made an illegal right turn on a red light at the last intersection. The man was courteous but definitely let me know that running a red light was a very serious infraction. I told him I was unaware that I had done that and apologized profusely. Feeling very contrite (and busted) I handed over my driver’s license and proof of insurance.

The officer looked very stern when he returned to my car after running my plates and checking my record. He was dead serious when he said, “Do you agree to perform 200 sit ups or pull ups? It’s your choice.” Not believing what I heard, I replied, “Excuse me?” To that he said, “Instead of giving you a ticket for running a red light, which would have cost you $ 200, I am giving you this as your sentence.” He looked over at Susan and asked her if she was my friend and instructed her to make sure I completed my sentence. I gratefully shook his hand and told him I’d be happy to do what he asked and went on my way.

I selected the 200 sit-ups option and am pleased to report that I recently completed the full sentence (not all at once, but in increments of 25).

This week when you are on the road, make an effort to be extra generous to your fellow drivers. You never know when you need to access some of that accumulated Traffic Karma.

Ann had written a best-selling book on networking and was in town to present at a luncheon sponsored by the Minneapolis chapter of SME. She looked to be in her mid-50′s. As her host, I picked her up at the airport and took her to dinner the night she arrived. I remember thinking how much I admired her optimistic attitude. The woman seemed to be wise beyond her years.
My life at the time was a train wreck. I recently turned 40 and was dealing with several personal disasters including the demise of my marriage. After being with the same man for 20 years I was terrified at the prospect of starting life over as a single mom. I had never felt so depressed, desperate and alone.
After her presentation the following day, Ann and I stopped in the hotel restaurant for a cup of coffee. We had an hour to kill before I returned her to the airport for her flight back to L.A. I took the opportunity to tell her my sad tale in hopes she would share some of her hard-earned wisdom with me. I dissolved into tears as I told her that the thing I hated most about my situation was that I felt stuck. I felt that I was in a perpetual state of paralyzing fear.
Ann shared with me that she’d felt the same way many times and couldn’t see a way out until she realized that what was causing her angst was the old story she was telling herself. The story she had been telling herself for years had been true at one time, but upon closer examination that particular story no longer applied. That old pattern of habitual thinking needed to be replaced with a new, updated story that accurately reflected her current situation.
Ann suggested that instead of constantly telling myself I was scared, I should try replacing the word “scared” with the word “excited.” When I made that one word substitution I was amazed how my perspective suddenly shifted from feeling doomed and desperate to feeling more positive and downright optimistic about my future.
Lest I forget this important life lesson, I wrote it down on the blank nametag that was in my jacket pocket. That same nametag has been on the bulletin board next to the desk in my office for the past 17 years.
This week take a look at one of the many stories you tell yourself. Check to see if that particular story still applies to who you are right now. If not, change it
May your stories be true and your endings happy.

P.S. I found out later that Ann had been battling colon cancer for several years. She died six months after her visit to Minneapolis.