Being stuck in traffic can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it feels like the driver ahead is moving slower than we’d prefer. For Hailey, a busy mom with a packed schedule, this was exactly the situation she found herself in one day. Between juggling family responsibilities, managing her household, and even running a blog, free time is a rare luxury for her. So, when she found herself trailing behind a car that was struggling to keep up with the speed limit, her patience was put to the test.
Like many of us, Hailey felt the familiar irritation creeping in. But when she stopped behind the same car at a red light, she noticed something that shifted her perspective entirely. Taped to the back window of the vehicle was a handwritten note that read: *"Learning stick, sorry for any delay.”* Suddenly, everything made sense. The driver wasn’t being slow to annoy others—they were simply learning how to drive a manual transmission.
Hailey shared her experience in a heartfelt Facebook post that quickly went viral. She reflected on how seeing that note changed her reaction and made her more patient. She wrote:
*"As I was pulling into work, I was following this car. The sign in the back window said, ‘Learning stick, sorry for any delay.’ Knowing this, I was very patient with their slow shifting, and honestly, they were doing pretty well for still learning. Then I asked myself a tough question: Would I have been just as patient if the sign hadn’t been there?”*
She admitted that without the note, she likely wouldn’t have been as understanding. This realization led her to a deeper thought: *"We don’t know what someone is going through. We don’t wear signs that illustrate our personal struggles. You don’t see signs taped to people’s shirts that say, ‘Going through a divorce,’ or ‘Lost a child,’ or ‘Feeling depressed,’ or ‘Diagnosed with cancer.’ If we could visually see what those around us are going through, we would definitely be nicer.”*
Hailey’s message was clear: kindness shouldn’t depend on knowing someone’s story. We shouldn’t need a reason to treat others with patience and compassion. Whether we’re aware of their struggles or not, everyone deserves an extra dose of understanding and love.
That simple, handwritten note on the car window served as a powerful reminder for Hailey—and for all of us. It’s easy to get caught up in our own frustrations, but taking a moment to pause and consider what others might be going through can make all the difference. Life moves at different paces for everyone, and a little patience can go a long way. Let’s strive to be kinder, even when we don’t know the full story.
