When drivers behave unpredictably.

I had a common and normal experience the other day.

This is something that a person who utilizes a high mobility device such as a personal electric vehicle or anything that can utilize the bike lanes may relate to. Also, drivers who make their way through the city might also have this experience.

Just the other day while I was in the bike lane on Pike street heading east from downtown towards Capitol Hill in Seattle, a white car unexpectedly executed a right turn while I was just about to enter the intersection.

While I am getting better at avoiding the possibility of this scenario, I was going a fairly moderate speed so I decided to take the risk of being near a car while going straight through the intersection. Since most drivers do signal a right turn on a busy city road near downtown, if there is no signal, then they usually continue straight through the intersection.

I remember making some sort of noise and saying, “well, guess we’re going right today,” and then the white vehicle did make a complete stop for my own safety.

Of course, I had just made an emergency right turn and was preparing to continue south at this point. Since the white vehicle’s turn was moderate — not too tight — then I had room to maneuver between the white car and the curb heading uphill on Boren. But, they put on their brakes fairly quickly.

So while I passed the white vehicle that had come to a complete stop, my eyes gazed towards their indicator to confirm whether or not they had signaled and it did not appear that this was the case. Then I raised my hand in appreciation that they stopped for me as I rounded around the front of the vehicle towards my original trajectory on the intersection heading east on Pike street.

But I was not mad.

Because fact of the matter is that I may take some of my own liberties on the roadways. So I am always appreciative that a person attempts to care for my safety even if they have made an action which could have resulted in a worse outcome.

Therefore it is best to just move on because adding stress to another person’s life is not worth it. Life is hard enough as it is and if we’re interacting with each other in this city, then our proximity is very close and our actions have rippling impact on the immediate society.

If we are having real interactions with people, perhaps we can practice immediate forgiveness and then just move on with our lives.

I do not intend to hurt another person because if I empathize with them, then it hurts me because I feel them.

Take one action or create an intention to practice forgiveness for a person or group in your life. In my view, resentment only seeks to hold us down.

Practice a moment of virtue. Thank you for this.