I used to live in Charlotte, North Carolina and the traffic there is….well, different from rural Michigan. I used to have horrible road rage, and I’m pretty sure that Oscar learned how to say, “Great f***ing turn signal” from me when he was 2. Needless to say, I have an anger problem in the car. I’m lucky that I live in a rural area because I most likely would have had a heart attack or stroke by now in a big city. I don’t usually curse at the Amish buggy I need to pass and it’s hard to get mad at farm machinery that’s driving slowly down the road because it’s feeding me and my family.
I don’t think that I’ve mellowed as I age, but I have learned a different way to look at traffic. While I still can’t stand it when someone is going slow in the passing lane or doesn’t use their turn signal, I don’t fret and try frantically to find the fast lane when the traffic starts picking up. I don’t race to the front of the lane that’s ending and I try to zipper in as soon as it’s possible for me. When there’s a dead stop on the highway and I’m getting later and later on my time frame that I had in mind, I sit back now and think how glad I am that I’m sitting in the traffic and not in the wreck that’s causing it.
While I’m not religious, I am spiritual. So, while I don’t see a higher power at work necessarily, I do feel at times like fate sure is nice to me. It’s my form of mindful gratitude and travel seems to really make it apparent. There are always going to be delays when traveling. I don’t think that we have ever had a trip go 100% to plan. We try to practice adaptability and roll with delays and concerns. I find it works better when I travel than when I’m in the grocery store. I always seem to find the slowest line for check out. But at least there are magazines to read in line.