Instant Gratification

The other day I went to the grocery store. The parking lot is small, but efficient. It directs people in a circle around the lot. As I was pulling into the lot, a car that had been circling the parking lot turned right in front of me. The turn was malicious, too. She definitely wanted to get ahead of me. I found out why a few seconds later as I looked around the parking lot and it was full. Anyway, the mean car drove past a row of cars and as soon as she drove past, one of them put on their backing up lights. Ha! Since I was next in line, I took that spot. Had the situation happened differently and mean car had actually been nice car, she would have let me go ahead of her instead of cutting me off. In that case, she could have stopped circling the lot and taken the spot that I did. But she didn't choose to be polite, she chose to be a jerk. Instant karma. It made me feel like the universe was on my side.

That is a small example of the benefits of the golden rule. I have no doubt that she would not have wanted someone to cut her off, just as I didn't. In the end, of course, I was grateful, but my first reaction was irritation. Because I am practicing patience while driving, I did not curse her up and down the parking lot. I just shook my head and kept driving.

It's a basic principle that we all learned in kindergarten: treat others how you would like to be treated. I think it's funny how some people can't forget the person who accidentally stepped on their toe ten years ago, but they can't remember what they learned in grade school. If there were more "please" and "thank you's" in the world, I think people would be generally happier. It doesn't take much to say "you're welcome" or "no, you go ahead." I have to admit that I am a very impatient driver, but I'm working on that because I don't think it does anybody any good. My destination is not any more important than yours, and we're all in the same boat. If more people got out of their heads and realized how they indirectly or directly affect the lives of others, I think everyone would be nicer.

Pay it forward, people.