I was driving across a green signal and was stuck just before the walking zone because a car ahead of me decided to drop or pick someone( guessing was an Uber) . I waited while the pedestrian crossing turned green. A middle aged man with his partner was crossing from across the road and seeing them I didn’t inch ahead as I knew I was in the wrong spot and have to wait for them to cross and I was in their space . While I waited this gentleman abused me verbally, almost banged his fist on my car fuming in Anger, he kept looking into my eyes and using profanity and I felt sad as I couldn’t help him or explain to him or make him feel any better. I haven’t heard anyone abuse me so much on my face, looking into my eyes. I made a sad face, I apologized and gestured that I am helpless but nothing calmed him. Or maybe it did and that was the reason he didn’t bang my cars hood. He crossed and I drove away.

While the other cars ahead of me moved and I along with another car just behind me moved but this man remained in my mind. I was left wondering how important is “perspective” in life.

For him rightly in his position I was that driver who jumped the signal at the nick of the moment and got caught at the pedestrian crossing so he was angry at me that he expressed it in the ways he could. He felt I was maybe a rash driver who was inconsiderate and in all fairness he is right to assume what he assumed.

Reality was I didn’t jump the signal, someone ahead of me stopped and that paused my movement. I was unhappy to be on the crossing junction as I am very particular about following rules. My reality is while I was sorry I was in the wrong spot I wasn’t actually at fault as I didn’t anticipate someone stopping ahead and causing the jam. I was wrong but my intent wasn’t what the pedestrian saw.

This incident left me feeling it is so easy for us to point fingers at others and vent out all our frustration at them because they didn’t do it right, or the way we want them to do things or they didn’t follow the rules. I am guilty of this several times in my life but how beautiful will it be to pause and understand the scenario or assume the best intent and walk away. How nice would it be to wish someone good and giving them a benefit of doubt in life. This is a lesson for me and a huge one. His face is still in front of my eyes but fortunately I didn’t get angry at him which I feel grateful for.

I wish I get to use my intellect to see perspectives of situations in life, I wish I get to be mindful of others situation in life, I wish I get to be empathetic to others, I wish I always see the glass half full.

Love and Light!