In his book "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running," Haruki Murakami reflects on the nature of life using the metaphor of a highway. He suggests that, like driving, life comes with its ups and downs, and it is unrealistic to expect to succeed at everything always. The journey is filled with various lanes that symbolize different experiences, and sometimes it’s essential to slow down rather than constantly pushing for speed or success.

This perspective is an invitation to embrace the inevitability of setbacks and the slower moments in life. Murakami reminds us that while striving for our goals is important, we must also accept that we cannot always be at our best, and that it's perfectly normal to navigate through the slower lanes of life's journey.