Turning Road Rage Into Coexistence

There are from time to time little nudges that we get from somewhere within our periphery that remind us to pay attention to the nuances of our lives.

I bumped into this truth a while ago while reflecting on a traffic upset in which I’d been involved. Homeward-bound after an especially intense workday, I was at a stop sign wearily but patiently waiting my turn to turn right. There were cars in front and in back of me. It was a difficult corner, offering minimum visibility. We were quietly enduring our momentary standstill, when a horn from behind began to persistently blast forth its owner’s impatience.

Finally, it was my turn. I had to inch out because a car had pulled up on my left, blocking my view of oncoming traffic. I inched, peeked, then, noting that the coast was not clear, I stopped. But not so Mr. Honker, who punctuated his impatience by abruptly smacking into my rear bumper. I proceeded across the street and onto the shoulder, Honker smoking behind.

Even then, good intentions prevailed. I have a philosophy about these things. Unless there is damage, let bygones be bygones. Stuff happens. I checked my bumper and found it intact. Nor did there seem to be any harm to myself. I turned toward Honker (who was snorting and stomping his way toward me) fully prepared to graciously grant him forgiveness. But, before I could bestow one serene syllable, he bellowed, “Whatthehell did you stop for, lady?” “What?!” I could only stutter in response.

“Yeah, right!” he grunted (as if I were the fool here and not he), and abruptly bolted back aboard his dent-laden vehicle. He lurched away, without checking traffic, down his own personal highway to hell. Eventually I arrived home safely, still furiously at battle with my rage-demons. I focused my energies into research (via computer), hoping to tap into a more emotionally viable perspective. Road rage: 13,325,180 hits!

There was a psychological viewpoint page with helpful hints, all sharing a common theme: We must keep our cool. This is potentially treacherous stuff, this road rage. And, globally speaking, how can we hope to travel the road to world peace when we can’t even manage to get along while pausing at a stop sign?

The good to come of this unpleasant interlude is that it prompted me to think. Disregarding the other guy’s behavior, how do I want to be in any given situation: peaceful or maniacal? I looked to the masters: Gandhi confirmed what I deep down knew. The more efficient a force is, the more silent and more subtle it is.

How about approaching 2000 with a mind-set toward peaceful coexistence? A good place to start might be from the vantage of our own driver’s seat the next time we meet at a crossroad.