Who are you?

Who are you?

Are you the one who sees that the lanes ahead are merging and who drives like a NASCAR racer to ruthlessly cut your way in ahead of everyone else? Are you the one who lets the door close in someone’s face because you were in too much of a hurry to hold it open for a brief moment? Are you the one who bumps into someone without acknowledging them or saying, “I’m sorry about that…” but instead gives them a dirty look as though it was their fault? Are you the one who doesn’t reciprocate when asked, “How are you doing?” and only drones on about yourself? Are you the one who carelessly tosses your rubbish toward the bin, but when it misses you are too lazy to reach down and pick it up?

Are you the one who is thinking to yourself right now, “I hate those kinds of people!” 

Chances are, you have been or are one of those kinds of people.

Are you one who has been on the receiving end of these things and who lets them eat at you—dehumanizing the other person with words like, “You idiot!” or “Stupid jerk!” or “Are you kidding me, you lazy ____?!”

We all have foibles. We all can be jerks, idiots, and lazy ____s. But we don’t have to let those things rule over us and affect our happiness.

Don’t return stupidity, or selfishness, laziness or obliviousness with anger. Are there things in this world of which we should be angry? Of course. But consider if these foibles are truly among the large concerns in life. A lesson hard learned, but reacting gracefully when wronged is the antidote to unbridled frustration and misplaced anger—anger which multiplies and spills out in all areas of life. And, in so much as you can avoid it, don’t be a jerk.