I don’t know about you, but recently, I’ve felt very stretched–almost like I’m being pulled in two different directions.

And you know what I’ve learned?

It is not fun looking like this man:

Now, you might be wondering, who is that man?

That, friend, is Jean Van Damme.

Are you equal parts intimidated and impressed?

I know I am!

Full disclaimer:

The first time I saw this commercial, the three things that went through my head were…

1) Wow, I wish I could do the splits.

2) HOLY COW—THAT’S A MAN! I DIDN’T KNOW THEY COULD DO THAT!

And…

3) How did he not rip his pants?

So if any of you lovely people thought Young Sarah was a font of deep thoughts and moral gravitas, you can think again!

In fact, it was only recently, upon further reflection (because this is what I do with my free time now 🙂 ), that I discovered the truly valuable point this commercial helps illustrate, and that is this:

Many of us are on our way to (or already in!) an unsustainable straddle.

Jean Van Damme style.

Why unsustainable?

Well, because if those trucks get too far apart, you’re going to be in big trouble.

However!

My hope this week is to help you see that that does not have to be your destiny and to give you some ideas for what you can do to avoid getting stuck if you find yourself caught between two trucks.

Spoiler Alert! You Need To Pick A Truck.

Ideally, sooner rather than later.

But how?

Well, by asking yourself the following three questions:

1. Where are the trucks going?
2. How are they getting there?
3. Who’s along for the ride?

These questions are absolutely key for getting you safely out of pants ripping territory.

Allow me to explain.

#1 Where Is The Truck Going?

Destination. Destination. Destination.

This is the most obvious truck adjudicator.

If one truck is going to Guantanamo Bay and the other is going to Malibu, you should probably set both feet firmly on the one that isn’t going to a place where they will likely torture and indefinitely detain you.

Just my recommendation.

However, hyperbole and literalism aside, you really do need to give some thought to your destination (or goal, if it helps you to think about it like that) because if the trucks you’re straddling have different ends in mind, eventually, they are going to start heading in disparate directions.

Hello, pants rippage.

So! You need to select your destination.

Now, to be clear, this doesn’t mean you can only ever have one destination in your life. Heck no! Odds are you’re going to take more than one trip while you’re earth-side, but in the short term, this just means you need to prioritize.

So ask yourself, in the here and now, which destination is the most important to you?

Once you know that, you can choose the truck that will get you there without endangering your loins, pants, or underwear.

However, let’s say the trucks are, in fact, going to the same destination.

If that’s the case, you’re off the hook, right?

No truck selection necessary!

Wrong.

Question #2 will prove this to you.

#2 How Are The Trucks Getting There?

This is a very important question because while both of your trucks may be headed to the same destination, the way they go about getting there can–and probably will–vary.

Is life a highway or are you taking the road less traveled by?

I can’t answer that question for you, but I can (and do!) highly recommend that you sit down and map out your preferred route.

Are you a straight-shot A to B type or do you like getting lost along the way?

It’s a good thing to think about because if one truck is like a mission-minded man at the grocery store and the other is looping around like an elephant that’s just been shot with a woo-hoo helping of tranquilizer, you’re probably going to have a preference for one over the other.

And more to the point:

Regardless of your preference, the trucks will not be sticking together, meaning that, once again, your pants and loins are in peril.

So…

We’ve now established that in the world of truck selection, you not only need to have a destination in mind, you also need to figure out your preferred way of getting there.

However!

For the sake of argument, let’s say that the trucks are going to the same place the exact same way.

Unlikely… but okay.

On to the final question.

#3 Who’s Along For The Ride?

You know the saying “bad company corrupts good morals?”

I think it can be similarly said that bad company corrupts good travels.

Think about it.

Can you imagine the different experiences you would have on a trip with Ted Bundy, The Queen of Hearts, and Joseph Ignace Guillotin versus one with J.K. Rowling, Tim Tebow, and Winnie the Pooh?

Just to be clear, in truck number one, your head would be seen as a superfluous body part…

Sign me up for truck number two!

In all seriousness, though, who’s on the truck with you?

Because you can have your destination picked out, route set out, and the trip can still go down the tube if the people traveling with you are…

Shall we say… sub-optimal?

This doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad people, just that they might not be the best people for your present journey.

So assess the occupants of the trucks you’re straddling, and decide which of the two groups you’d prefer to ride with. Importantly, don’t trick yourself into equivocating between the two because I can pretty much guarantee that one is going to be at least somewhat better for you.

Finally, Let’s Review.

1. Where are the trucks going?
2. How are they getting there?
3. Who’s along for the ride?

These are the questions you need to ask yourself if you feel you’re being split between trucks because even if you are a bona fide contortionist, the human body has limits.

You have limits.

So do yourself a favor and pick a truck.

Ideally, before you get stuck.

Good luck 🙂