Being a mom, a wife, and managing a home can be a challenging juggling act. And when you have several children, quiet moments are a rare luxury. Hailey, a woman who knows this all too well, faces daily puzzles and big consequences from small obstacles.

One day, on her way to work, Hailey found herself stuck behind a slow-moving car. It tested her patience not to lose her temper behind the wheel. She was in a hurry and didn’t have time to waste behind a snail-paced vehicle.

But when Hailey stopped behind the car at a red light, she noticed something important: a note in the back window. Intrigued, she read the words and felt compelled to share her experience on her blog, Thoughts, Dots and Tots. This encounter changed her perspective on the world.

Here’s what Hailey wrote: “As I was pulling into work, I was following this car. The sign in the back window says, ‘Learning stick sorry for any delay.’ Knowing this information, 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? I can almost definitely say no. 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 read what those around us are going through, we would definitely be nicer. But we shouldn’t have to see signs and have reasons to treat strangers with kindness. We should do it anyway, whether we know what is going on or not. Whether they deserve it or not. Let’s give everyone an extra dose of patience, kindness, and love.”

This handwritten note left a lasting impact on Hailey. Instead of remaining frustrated and annoyed, she took a deep breath and chose to be tolerant. We can all learn from Hailey and her experience.

How many times have you been annoyed because the bus is late or someone is rude to you? But getting angry doesn’t benefit anyone. Why not show compassion and kindness instead? Treating others with understanding and empathy benefits both you and those around you. Imagine if we all took a deep breath and embraced Hailey’s lesson. Life doesn’t have to stress us out.

Please share Hailey’s powerful words with your friends and family on Facebook so that more people can appreciate them!

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