The closer the relationship the better the chance you've been mean. I've been married nearly 27 years. That's a lot of opportunity to be mean to my wife. Same with the kids. The more you're with someone the more opportunity you have to be mean.
Road rage is a cultural term that has grown out of our intolerance for other's driving habits. This is one area where I have a long ways to go in not being mean. Next time I feel my blood pressure rise due to another driver I will ask myself a few questions.
- Is this person lost?
- Are they a new driver?
- Are they upset about something?
- Do they get anxious when driving?
I've learned to exercise some patience by thinking about these things, but I still get angry at drivers who block the passing lane for mile after mile on the interstate. (Note: Nice people drive in the right lane unless they're passing, pass expeditiously, and move back over to the right once clear of the passed car.)
There's other "triggers" that turn me from a nice guy into a not so nice guy. Long lines. Time Warner Cable (Google Fiber is 90 days away!) Bad service in a resturant. The list goes on.
Learn to recognize the triggers and step back for a moment. Ask yourself some questions about the other party. What burdens are on their heart? Do your best to simply be nice - even if you don't want to be nice and can justify not being nice. Just Be Nice.
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