You might think, “Okay, but I don’t even take trains.” Fair enough. But this isn’t just about trains. It’s about the invisible edges of your day: the wet floor sign at the grocery store, the “caution” tape around a manhole, the warning beep of a delivery truck backing up.
Think of your daily life like a game of “floor is lava.” We all know the lava isn’t real, but for that woman, the track was lava. She slipped, and the game ended. Her lava was very, very real.
Here’s a fun way to remember: next time you’re near any kind of moving vehicle, do a little “safety shuffle.” Step back. Look both ways. Smile at the absurdity of it. You’ll look a bit goofy, but goofy is better than gone.
The ripple you didn’t know you were part of
When someone dies like this, it’s not just their family that feels it. The train driver will never forget that bump. The person who saw it from their car might skip lunch. We are all connected by these invisible threads of near-misses and everyday choices.
A woman died after being hit by a freight train while crossing the
Remember that time you tripped on a curb and a stranger caught your elbow? That was a tiny kindness. This story is the opposite: a tiny moment of no return. But it reminds us to be that stranger. To look out for the distracted person on their phone near the tracks.
I like to think we can all adopt a little “grandma energy.” You know how grandmas always say, “Slow down, honey”? Be your own grandma. Pause. Breathe. Let the train pass. Let the day pass. You’re more important than a few lost seconds.
