The Ripple Effect: From Traffic Jam to Life Change
Ripple Effects Have you ever thought about how a small change can have such a big impact—and create a ripple effect? The idea of one drop of water hitting a smooth lake and sending ripples across the entire surface is a powerful image. I experienced that ripple effect recently, though in a more negative way. While driving back from Boston after picking up my son from college, we encountered about a 10-minute backup on the interstate. It was clear from the emergency vehicles that there was an accident up ahead. As we merged into the open lanes and passed the accident, I noticed something interesting on the other side of the highway. Traffic there was also backed up just as badly—but for no apparent reason. There was a wide median separating the two directions, so the accident itself had no direct impact on their lanes. What we were witnessing was the ripple effect of “rubbernecking.” Drivers on the opposite side slowed down or tapped their brakes to see what had happened. That small act...