This morning on the way to work, I was stopped at a red light and an interesting thing occurred. There is construction going on and there was a dump truck on a temporary road to the side that wanted to get in. The light turned green and the fellow commuter a couple cars up waited and waved the dump truck to go. The car in front of me started honking. The man in front of me was honking and swearing. It took all of 10 seconds or so for the dump truck to go.

We were towards the back of the line, but the light turn red again just as we approached the intersection. There was the nice commuter who let in the truck, the irate honking commuter, and me. He was still going on and shaking his first at the car in front of him. Soon the light changed again and we continued on our way.

This normal situation was a great struggle with much disappointment and some suffering for the man in front of me, but it was totally in his head. Why all the stress and strain? It was a beautiful morning…he probably didn’t even notice.

He was so worried about getting to something in the future, that the present was overlooked and problematic – filled with stress because the person in front of him slowed progress a little in order to be nice to another.

This is both funny and sad – for if the man only remained aware of the present and allowed the future to unfold with his best efforts (instead of pushing and straining) while allowing others to do as they will (like being courteous to another) – this might have been a very different situation. He might have enjoyed the commute during this beautiful morning.

Namaste,

~ Eric Putkonen