Hating Strangers in Other Cars
Detaching with love on the road.
Most of us are on the road daily dealing with traffic. Depending on where you live, the time of day, and your need to be somewhere at a certain time, you know your internal check-engine-light could come on.
This is that gut signal that your frustration level is rising. Signals like this, when on too long or frequently eventually begin to feel normal. We might just chalk them up as the acceptable price for having to drive with others who don’t seem to know how.
As I have attended recovery meetings over the years a common theme tends to pop up frequently when it comes to driving. People can profess to be doing better in general in their recovery, except when driving. It seems for many peace and serenity are least attainable there.
Personally, I see driving as a way to check my frustration levels in general. If something is bothering me, when I climb into a car and begin dealing with strangers on the road, I can tell I am more easily annoyed and impatient.
So, to me driving is a useful emotional indicator. The serenity I seek, even when dealing with those who know how to push my buttons, can be worked through while I drive.
Here are some ways I try to lower my stress level when driving.
I factor in enough time to get where I am supposed to be at least ten minutes early.
If the traffic level is still much greater than normal, or there has been an accident, I relax. I might not be to my destination on time, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m still alive and missed appointments can usually be rescheduled if necessary.
If someone is speeding and weaving through traffic I usually say to myself or a passenger that they must be late to a Bible study. That helps me laugh and detach. Their crazy driving is their problem and I refuse to make it mine.
In Conclusion:
It is critical when seeking to cultivate more peace and happiness in our lives to know how to detach from the behavior of others, and a great place to practice this is while driving.
