Just this week, I was pulling away from a stop with a load of Central high school students. Without warning, I had to quickly apply my brakes. Weekly avoiding hitting a car that hurriedly slipped in front of me to make a quick right turn. Having avoided the impending accident, my mind became furious with not only that one driver’s behaviour, but all such behavior of “self centered” teen drivers. I went on to blame the self centered behaviour of all drivers and pedestrians who place me at risk as the guardian of passenger lives and company property.

I was furiously whipping my favorite scape goats feeling victimized and justified in my attempt to provide a needed public service. Then briefly I caught notice of the fact that my signal lights were telling others that I was remaining stationary, not attempting to move back into traffic. I realized that the condition I was blaming on others was in fact self created. Had I let others know what I was about to do, they would have had information to respond differently. Put another way, had I let them know of my needs, they might have graciously afforded me the space I needed to enter the flow.

Just this moment of self realization allowed me the opportunity to cool down, laugh at myself, and open the blinders of my mind creating better safety for all. Personal perception is my biggest challenge when it comes to living cooperatively and safely. It is also the most likely culprit when I am feeling put upon or victimized.

Thank you for today’s message.