Following Oprah's Lead: The Best Pledge My BFF Took

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My dear friend Cyndie works the swing shift, 3:00 PM to 12:00 am, Monday through Friday, for a health insurance company located in Warner Center. I know she feels a bit nervous driving home alone at that time of night. To combat her insecurities, she called me from her car and chatted with me on her cellphone all the way home. Over the last twelve months, her calls became an enjoyable routine; I looked forward to our nightly talks.

Well, that all changed two Mondays ago.

On Monday, January 19th, Oprah exposed the hidden dangers of using a cell phone while driving on her show. Several families were interviewed and they told their stories of the deaths of their loves ones caused by drivers distracted by cell phones while operating their vehicles. On her website, Oprah began the NO PHONE ZONE pledge campaign where she asks all her viewers to stop using their cell phone in their cars.

I learned of the campaign via Facebook and immediately signed up. With all my chronic health problems, I actively avoid using my cell phone in the car because it really takes ALL my concentration now just to drive the short distances I can drive. Then I thought of my nightly conversations with my friend Cyndie...

I know my friend Cyndie is a big fan of Oprah and records her show daily. I hoped that she had watched the episode too. I felt I needed to break the news to her that our nightly conversations in her car needed to come to an end. After all, if I wasn't going to use my cell phone in my car, I shouldn't be taking to someone using their cell phone in their car either.

My worries and anxieties were alleviated when I brought the subject up and Cyndie immediately mentioned the program. Turns out, she had signed the pledge too. We were both a little sad that our weeknight routine was coming to an end, but at least we were on the same page.

Now a week and a half later, we are still trying to come up with an alternate time for our daily chats. But I feel better that we both agreed that eliminating the cell phone distraction from our cars was the more important issue to tackle. I miss our late night chats, Cyndie, but I feel a whole lot better knowing that you are safer paying attention to your driving.

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Today's blog post is sponsored by Columbus Health Insurance. Columbus Health Insurance is the website to visit to shop for health insurance if you live in Columbus, Ohio. View plans, check rates and apply online.

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