Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF IN THE MOMENT

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF IN THE MOMENT:                                                                         These are my favorite 2 pages in the whole book: “Make the most of y...

BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF IN THE MOMENT

                                                         

These are my favorite 2 pages in the whole book:

“Make the most of yourself-for that is all there is of you.”

                                        —R a l p h Wa l d o E m e r s o n

You need to have a life’s purpose. You set long term goals, the BIG

PICTURE. This is good, it is good to have a master plan. But the

bottom line is, the best way to have a sense of purpose, to get where

you are destined to go, to reach your ultramarathon goal is to simply

be the best version of yourself in this given moment. Like when you

are running and want to quit, but you do your best to keep moving

ahead to that next telephone pole or tree, and then the next …

and do it all again. The reality is your life’s purpose is constantly

changing. Day to day, hour to hour, minute by minute. Look at

what has been put in your path at any given moment. Being the best

version of yourself in the moment should be your guide. Doing your

best at what you are best at. Guiding every decision. Guiding every

act. Constantly pause, and ask yourself, “Am I being the best version

of myself in this moment?” Helping the person in front of you that

was put in your life path. Putting your best effort on this hill, reps at

the gym, this bike ride and the ride of life. Making the most of your

time with the best you have to offer. You are here, so you may, as well

make the most of it with the unique skills and talents you have been

given. This means sometimes saying no, when you know you should.

Helping when you should help. Whatever project you are working

on, no matter how petty you perceive it at the time, do your best. Be

who you are. Be who you know you should be. Act how you know

you should act. Be the best version of yourself in this moment. Do

this and you will find the best version of yourself just keeps getting

better. Your life’s purpose.

You can get your copy of Perfect Drift here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTN8VB51

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: ENJOY THE MOMENTS

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: ENJOY THE MOMENTS:                                                                              “Life is made of moments not milestones.”                      ...

ENJOY THE MOMENTS

                                                             

“Life is made of moments not milestones.”

                                        Rose Kennedy

It is the petty things that stress us out. It is the moments of joy we miss

because we look for the big score or milestone. As Joe Paterno said,

“Don’t sweat the small stuff and it is all small stuff.” It is the ordinary

moment we need to stop and savor. My five-mile run this morning was

quite ordinary but beautiful. The things we tend to take for granted are

the things we should pause and savor. As they say, “stop and smell

the roses.” It is great to have big, big goals, or “I cannot wait until I

get this or that” but enjoy the process. Soak in the moments along

the way. Celebrate the “little wins” or accomplishments along the way.

These are the moments we must not miss, and we must be grateful,

for these are the moments that carry us through the rough patches.

These are the moments that bring us the most joy and satisfaction.

You can get the International bestseller The Shi*t I Wished I learned in College here:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5FMWDGW

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: BE YOURSELF

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: BE YOURSELF:   “It sounds so simple, but if you just be yourself, you’re different than anybody else.”                                              — To ...

BE YOURSELF

 

“It sounds so simple, but if you just be yourself,

you’re different than anybody else.”

                                    —To n y B e n n e t t

Somewhere along the way, it happens. A slow insidious process

without you even knowing it, like the boiled frog that starts out

in cold water slowly turning up the temperature finding itself boiling

without realizing it happened. You lose your identity. You lose your

individuality. You become exactly who the world tells you you should

be. Can you remember who you were before this happened to you?

That is the person you need to re-connect with. Who you should be.

Your true individual unique self. Some folks never lose that spirit,

but most of us do because we have it sucked out of us in a system

designed to crank out uniform parts in a uniform system to satisfy

the needs of other people. Just remember to be yourself and always

to do your best. Be the best version of YOURSELF in the moment

doing what you are best at. That is perfection. You are quite unique.

One of a kind and can never be replaced. Make your own path.

Think outside the box. Think freely. Think creatively. Be original.

Learn from the past. Observe. Pay attention. Watch others. Take it

all in, then combine that with your own skills, talent, uniqueness,

free spirit and make it better. Make it your own. Free yourself up to

be your own person. Do what you and you alone were built to do. Do

what is interesting to you. You were born unique, one of a kind. Be

your natural self. Do what comes naturally. Be your true self. Play

to your strengths. Your value comes from who you are. You were

created perfectly for a purpose. Work at improving your skills that

fit with your unique spirit and purpose.

You can get your copy of Perfect Drift here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTN8VB51

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: FOCUS ON THE PRESENT

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: FOCUS ON THE PRESENT:                                                        “You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t pa...

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT

                                                      

“You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up

to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.”

                                        Good Will Hunting

When you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, remember, slow your

mind down and focus on the present. Pay attention in the moment.

It is like being at mile 20 of a 100-mile ultramarathon, if you start

thinking about how you are going to finish or what mile 80 is going

to look like, your mind and thoughts will race ahead and get the best

of you. Instead, focus on what is right in front of you. Put one foot in

front of the other and focus, concentrate on getting to the next mile

marker. Keep going. Break it down into smaller sections. Just get

to that next telephone pole. Smaller, manageable, bite size chunks.

Avoid thinking about all the things that may go wrong. Stay focused

on the present situation. Seize the present moment. Concentrate. Do

the work. Prepare. Do not look back or do not dwell on regret. Avoid

imagined anxiety or troubles that may or may not come about ahead.

Focus and concentrate on the present. The task at hand. Avoid being

distracted by frustration or fear. Focus on now and be where you are

because right now is all we have.

You can get the International bestseller The Shi*t I Wished I learned in College here:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5FMWDGW

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: PEBBLE IN THE SHOE AND STARFISH

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: PEBBLE IN THE SHOE AND STARFISH:   “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”  —Mu h a m m a d  A l i That tiny pebble in your ...

PEBBLE IN THE SHOE AND STARFISH

 

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you

out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” —Mu h a m m a d  A l i

That tiny pebble in your shoe is annoying. It hurts. In life it usually

is the small stuff that annoys you the most. That is, if you let it.

Stop. Take off your shoe. Shake the pebble out. Put your shoe back

on. Keep walking. Deal with it before you have a full-blown blister.

Minor problems or discomforts are best dealt with early before they

really blow out of proportion. Avoid the everyday distractions that

prevent you from seeing the big picture of your life.

What does it matter? Nothing I do will make a difference. These

are the excuses you tell yourself to feel better when you do not do the

little things you know you should. You are small, but you do matter.

Have you ever had a pebble in your shoe? Try and tell yourself that

pebble is not bothering you. I bet you can’t. Ultimately, little things

can make a big difference and small differences add up. Doing a little

something extra for someone can mean the world to them. Minor

adjustments (i.e. pausing and removing that pebble from your shoe)

can have a big impact. Not being able to fix everything does not

mean there isn’t value in changing what you can. Stop making the excuses 

that nothing you do matters, it does matter. Remember the starfish story:

An old man sees a young person throwing starfish back into

the ocean after a storm. The old man asks why the young person is

doing this, since there are so many starfish and miles of beaches. The

young person replies that they are saving starfish from dying in the

sun. The old man says that the young person cannot possibly make

a difference. The young person picks up another starfish and throws

it back into the ocean, saying, “I made a difference to that one!” The

old man is inspired and joins the young person in throwing starfish

back into the ocean

You can get your copy of Perfect Drift here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTN8VB51

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: TODAY’S PURPOSE

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: TODAY’S PURPOSE:   “Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.”           Ma r k Twa i n Today’s To Do List • Be the best husb...

TODAY’S PURPOSE

 

“Give every day the chance to become the most

beautiful day of your life.”          Ma r k Twa i n

Today’s To Do List

• Be the best husband I can be

• Be the best dad I can be

• Get up early and see the sunrise

• Get outside. (walk, run, bike, hike, fly fish)

• Meditate

• Yoga

• Exercise-lift weights

• Chores (yard work, jobs around the house)

• Errands (post office, grocery store, gas up the car)

• Work (client meetings, depositions, court hearings, trials,

preparation time, write-research legal motions and briefs)

• Pickleball

• Eat dinner with Ann

• Read

• Walk the dog

• Stretch

• Sleep

My daily goal is to complete each of these things to the best

of my ability. That is a full “today’s purpose.” Come to think

of it, that is a full life’s purpose, isn’t it? When you break it down

into little chunks and identify the things you need to do, suddenly it

brings clarity to the bigger picture. What makes you happy, gives you

purpose, and makes you want to get out of bed in the morning can

be the basis of your habits and routines. What is on my list is just as

telling as what is not on it. I do not see, watch TV, or check Instagram.

These things may be temporary distractions and bring momentary

pleasure, and at times, this type of entertainment may be needed.

However, in the grand scheme of things these activities are just

distractions, not your purpose for the day, or your life. Stay focused

on what truly matters. You need a “life’s purpose,” to feel useful,

needed, and productive. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Some

folks may be better at finding their life’s purpose. For others, on the

surface it may appear that they’ve got everything figured out, but in

reality, they are struggling with the same question. “What is my life’s

purpose?” may be the wrong question to be asking yourself. What if

instead each morning, you asked, “what is my purpose today?” Or

each night you could ask, “what is my purpose tomorrow?” Rather

than struggling aimlessly about life’s big purpose, you can choose to

focus on a question you can answer. What am I uniquely good at?

What is on my path today? You must look in the mirror and start

with these types of questions.

You can get your copy of Perfect Drift here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTN8VB51

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: A Boeing 737 Max Disaster Every 24 Days? The Alarm...

Jaime Jackson Safety Blog: A Boeing 737 Max Disaster Every 24 Days? The Alarm...:   A recent guest essay by Craig Fuller, founder and CEO of FreightWaves, published in The New York Times o n April 24, 2026, has renewed a...

A Boeing 737 Max Disaster Every 24 Days? The Alarming Reality of Truck Crash Deaths in America

 

A recent guest essay by Craig Fuller, founder and CEO of FreightWaves, published in The New York Times on April 24, 2026, has renewed attention on a troubling question: Why do thousands of people continue to die in truck-related crashes every year? This article summarizes and discusses themes raised.

Every day, millions of Americans share the road with commercial trucks. These vehicles play a critical role in delivering the goods that keep our economy moving. But according to recent industry and government data, the trucking system may be becoming less safe—and the consequences can be devastating.

More Than 5,000 Lives Lost Each Year

Large truck crashes kill thousands of people annually in the United States. In 2023 alone, more than 5,400 people died in crashes involving large commercial trucks.

While air travel accidents often generate national headlines and immediate calls for reform, deadly truck crashes have become so common that many barely make the news. Yet the human cost is enormous. Families lose loved ones, survivors suffer life-changing injuries, and communities are left asking whether these tragedies could have been prevented.

The Boeing 737 Max crisis claimed 346 lives across two crashes. The US reaches that same death toll on its interstates every 24 days — a 737 Max-scale catastrophe each month.

Concerns About Driver Training and Licensing

Safety advocates have increasingly raised concerns about how some commercial truck drivers are trained and licensed.

In recent years, critics have argued that efforts to expand the trucking workforce have sometimes come at the expense of safety. Some training programs have been accused of providing minimal behind-the-wheel experience before issuing certifications, leaving inexperienced drivers responsible for operating vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

Commercial truck drivers must make split-second decisions in challenging conditions. Proper training, experience, and communication skills are essential to protecting everyone on the road.

Regulatory Oversight Under Scrutiny

Another concern involves the level of oversight within the trucking industry.

Federal regulators are responsible for ensuring that trucking companies, drivers, and training schools comply with safety standards. However, as the trucking industry has expanded dramatically over the past decade, critics argue that regulatory resources have not kept pace.

Some industry observers point to a growing gap between the number of carriers operating nationwide and the government's ability to inspect, audit, and monitor them effectively.

Unsafe Trucks Remain on the Road

Driver qualifications are only part of the equation.

Government data has indicated that a significant percentage of commercial trucks inspected each year have safety violations serious enough to render them unfit for operation. Mechanical defects, maintenance failures, and inadequate inspections can all contribute to catastrophic crashes.

When a fully loaded tractor-trailer experiences brake problems, tire failures, or steering issues, the results can be catastrophic for nearby motorists.

The Real Cost of Cheap Freight

The modern economy depends on fast and affordable shipping. Consumers have come to expect quick deliveries and low transportation costs.

But some experts argue that years of pressure to move freight more cheaply have created incentives that can undermine safety. When trucking companies operate on razor-thin margins, there may be increased pressure to cut costs on maintenance, training, or safety programs.

The question facing policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders is whether the drive for efficiency has come at too high a cost.

What This Means for Drivers and Families

Most trucking companies and professional drivers work hard to operate safely. However, when safety standards are ignored, the consequences can be severe.

Truck crashes often cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and wrongful death. Because commercial trucking involves multiple parties—including drivers, trucking companies, maintenance providers, brokers, and insurers—investigating these cases can be complex.

Understanding what happened requires a careful review of driver qualifications, training records, vehicle maintenance histories, electronic data, and company safety practices, and, often, identifying the many parties involved in the shipping chain.

Moving Toward Safer Roads

Many safety advocates are calling for stronger oversight of commercial driver training programs, improved enforcement of existing regulations, and greater accountability throughout the trucking industry.

While trucks will always be an essential part of America's transportation network, safety must remain the priority. Every driver, passenger, cyclist, and pedestrian deserves confidence that the commercial vehicles sharing the road are operated by qualified drivers in properly maintained equipment.

Preventing the next tragic truck crash starts with recognizing that these incidents are not always unavoidable accidents. In many cases, they are the result of decisions, policies, and safety failures that can—and should—be addressed before lives are lost.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash, contact Jaime Jackson Law on 717-519-7254 or through our website.

The original article “Truckers Kill More than 5,000 Pepler a Year. Regulators Are at Fault” by Craig Fuller, founder and CEO of FreightWaves, published in The New York Times on April 24, 2026, can be accessed here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/opinion/trucking-safety.html