Recently I approached an intersection where my light was green and I was turning right. As I started to turn, I noticed the vehicle directly across from me (which was turning left and thus headed the same direction as me) starting to turn also. Now, in this instant, I had a decision to make and I thought to myself...
1. I have the right of way.
2. He is not yielding to me.
3. I am a mother and have children in the vehicle.
4. I will wait.
So I stopped. Then he stopped (now in the middle of the intersection). Then he began to gesture in large movements for me to go (like I am an idiot) and when I didn't hit the gas in that 1.7 seconds he gave me a typical "you are an idiot" gesture and floored it through the intersection.
Now, I don't blame this guy for assuming I am an idiot, I just blame him for assuming anything period. I believe that he really was going to simply follow me through the intersection, anticipating that I would have gone, since it was my right. However, I chose not to anticipate that he was going to stop (or maybe more accurately, slow down and follow me), thus ensuring my safety whether he did or not. I understand his frustration--I do have a brother and a husband that are quite adept at "anticipating" vehicle movements. But as he drove by I thought, "I understand your frustration but you will never know mine. And I bet if I did actually know you, you wouldn't treat me like you just did."
And then it hit me. How many times have I treated people the same way? We allow our "friends" to be idiots, but NEVER strangers who are driving in a vehicle. They TRULY are idiots. And if one of those idiots turns out to be my friend then I must quickly repent of the names I just called them, smile big, wave, and hope that they can't read lips.
3 comments:
Ditto. How many times do we react-or think not nice things about someone when we really have no idea what is going on for them.
Smile and Wave to you:)
It's amazing what can go through our heads about people we don't know...and it would suddenly change if it were someone we knew.
In response to your comment on my post--we tried your egg shell the last night at Bear Lake. It was more comfortable...but the added height puts us closer to the ceiling and we lose a few inches on the sides so it feels even smaller!!! I think we need an alternative to an air mattress. We decided to go to the yard sale because Trav wants to sell his Playstation...so you bet we are goin! And I'm so nice to your kids because they are so darn cute and have such nice parents :)
I've found myself angered at someone and then my heart flutters as I wonder if they are in our new ward.... then I feel bad.
But I had an opposite experience the other day. I saw this older gentleman walking from the store to his car. I wondered what he had seen throughout his life: was he a veteran? how many grandkids did he have? what glorious lands had he traveled to?
Then he got in his car which was parked in the same aisle I was driving down to find a parking spot. He started his car and very awkwardly pulled out of the spot to go up the wrong way of the road, getting in my way and nearly hitting every car near him.
THEN I began thinking, "Aw, man! You totally just ruined this perfect story I made up about you!!" I was bummed.
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