The Traffic Sign

This is my 2nd speech entitled THE TRAFFIC SIGN, delivered last November 10, 2009. The Lenten break is really a good time to reflect and organize, that I am able to post the speeches I had from our Toastmasters...


A sign comes in different colors, shapes and sizes. A sign with symbols in round, square or triangular shape has their own meaning. For everybody’s appreciation, I will talk about a very common sign that we get to see in our day-to-day life, a sign that puts order on the roads we go through, and that is the Traffic Sign. I will not be a traffic officer or a reporter that will give points on how to avoid a terrible traffic. My speech for tonight will give you a different perspective for a traffic sign.
Let me start by envisioning yourself in a car you are to drive. You start your engine and travel to a certain destination. Upon reaching the main road out from your house, you came to an intersection together with the other vehicles trying to get on their way. There you see this traffic sign in a corner. Now, what colors do you see in a sign? There’s green, orange and red. These colors have their own meanings. In a traffic light, green means go, orange means pause and red means stop. Otherwise, without these traffic signs, the roads will be chaotic.
Let me correlate the importance of traffic signs to the ride of life we have. Most of the time, we would always want to be on the go, the green light. We are always rushing, trying to beat deadlines, grab opportunities, speak yourself up, be on the right track and be the first to reach your goal. We do not want to be interrupted with pauses, the orange light, because for us, we know this causes delay in what we are doing. Yet, we have to realize the importance of the other two signs, the orange and red light.
The orange light, means pause, yes it is a pause and not to speed up your car for the red light is about to appear. I used to do that from time to time. A pause is very important in our lives, for it gives us time to think. It is a way to re-align your goals to where you are really heading to. Orange light or a pause does not cause delay for it only gives us time to better decide on which path to go. An example is when you are confused before coming up with a decision. Try to take a break, a pause which the orange light reminds us, take a breather. This helps us to clear our mind and weigh the circumstances accordingly.
Finally, the red light which means to stop. Why do we have to stop? In a road, a stop gives way for others to go. For in an open intersection and all vehicles coming from opposite directions goes for the green light, all of them will definitely crash, paying for their lives. Same as in a relationship, you have to stop to give way for the other, and know when to stop if it is no longer right.
I hope this little sharing of my perspective gave you some things to ponder. We should always notice the signs around us to better appreciate and live the life we have. We may be going through our own hustles and bustles when we go for the green light but always remember when we have to pause for the orange light and when to stop for the red light.