By Edward Ball

Not staying in our lane is a mistake many of us make. Our lane is our space, that space where we add the most, but not too much, value to our own lives and to the lives of those around us.

Veering out of your lane causes social wrecks. Not changing lanes when it is time is not a good look either.

Mistake #1: veering

Children from all walks, times, and spaces veer into an adult lane prematurely. The social wreck happens down the road when they are adults revisiting their childhood.

These grown men and women are what you call ratchet. Running around behaving like kids doing ridiculous things like fighting in the club, running the streets, showing their ass, literally and figuratively. The necessary development  during childhood was stifled when adult concepts and themes were introduced into their plastic little mind. In an attempt to gain what was undeveloped they revert to that childish state. If this isn’t the case it sounds good.

Mistake #2: missing the off ramp.

This is where you learn what an O.G. is. An O.G. is an older person from the hood who put in his work, paid his dues, and is now out of the way allowing those that came after him to shine. He changes lanes and gets off on his exit.

The ones who try to run with the youngsters or tries to shine brighter than them aren’t real O.G.’s they are in the way looking crazy.

You see ’em, still rocking tennis shoes exclusively, still sagging, smelling like loud, pushing packs, beefing with youngster and trying to block their shine. They missed the off ramp. They need to be working, raising kids, running a business, out of the way or acting as a consultant to the youngsters in the hood helping them shine brighter.

Stay in your lane until your exit comes up. You can’t add value to anyone’s life, including your own, if you are ratchet or in the way keeping people from being all they can be.