It was sometime around 5th grade. Our class was assigned the task of orbiting around the school track for the entire P.E. class. It was going fine until classmate Justin Barger cut through the field so he wouldn’t have to do as many laps as the rest of us. This is my first memory of someone cheating and I can still recall the feeling I had when it happened. I didn’t know him at the time and we actually became friends later on but when I saw him do this, I was filled with anger. Now, many years later, I identify that moment as the first example of how much I hate cheating and despise laziness.
This familiar feeling bubbles up now and then and I won’t even get into how often it happens on the roadways. Wait, maybe any rage I feel on the road is just an extension of this absolute disgust for lazy cheaters. Aren’t most annoying drivers who speed, cut in front, or disregard the rules just guilty of being lazy or cheating? I think I’m making a personal breakthrough here.
Actually, the point of this post is related to cars and the silly stickers people put on their bumper or windows. We’ve all seen the ones announcing that the driver has completed a marathon or half marathon…
But have you seen the ones that boast about the exact opposite? Instead of 26.2 or 13.1, in bold fonts it reads…
Upon seeing one of these for the first time, that familiar feeling rose up within me. Someone thinks it’s funny to boast about their laziness, running 0.0 miles? Oh, this sticker was automatically bumped up to the top spot in things I hate the most! Well, at the very least it’s tied with flying roaches.
But after a little digging, my rigid hostility towards the sticker and those who use them has softened a bit. It *could be* that the person with the sticker on their car is not lazy, they just enjoy a good laugh. Maybe they like being active but running isn’t their thing. They might be a fantastic swimmer, a strong weightlifter, or they’re really into hiking or kayaking. It could be any number of activities they enjoy but running (especially a half or full marathon) isn’t it. I guess I can understand that mindset, especially because I appreciate laughter and folks’ attempt to brighten other people’s day with something that could make them smile.
I came across an enjoyable article about the 0.0 stickers. Check it out here if you have a second. It’ll help paint a picture of the thoughts behind the stickers that aren’t as cynical or confrontational as mine. Speaking of my thoughts, I share them every day here at Out of the Wildernesss, posting faithfully at 1pm central. If you’d like to get notified of new posts, sign up with your email for a daily reminder…
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