You never know, so just, be cool.

I was running late to meet a friend at her house so we could drive together to some event. Her neighborhood has several speed bumps, and I had the misfortune of being behind someone who was taking each bump at 1 mph. I’ve never claimed to be patient. I will claim to always be cutting it fine when it comes to being somewhere on time. So this added slow-down was extra frustrating.

The car in front of me, probably sensing my irritation, (I suppose I was following too closely) eventually pulled over so I could drive past. I shot a glance at the driver, a dude in his 30s or 40s.

from Rodrigo on Pexels

I told my friend about it, when I eventually made it to her house. “Wasn’t that so weird and annoying?” I asked her.

“He was probably delivering a cake,” she said.

Just like that, my indignation was brought up short. “You think?”

“My mom made and delivered cakes. Sometimes I’d go with her and she always had to be extra cautious over speed bumps.”

And so what a jerk I was, being irritated by some guy who gave me a look as I passed that basically said, “Could you just ease up already?”

Maybe he wasn’t delivering a cake, (then again, maybe he was) but regardless, he undoubtedly had good reason for driving so slowly. Maybe a sick kid in the back?

My friend’s statement made me realize how much easier it is to understand people’s actions, and forgive them, when you’ve been in their position too.

But even if you don’t “get it” from your own personal experience, it’s always best to be patient and kind. You never know what people are dealing with.

I mentioned earlier that I’ve gone back to teaching the self-defense class for kids. My co-teacher could put off starting the class no longer. Afterward he texted:

Then he asked what the deal was, why it was taking so long to be fully back on both feet. I explained how it took extra long to be taken seriously and seen by a doctor, likely because I wasn’t complaining enough about the pain.

Live and learn.

My hydroponic plant looking sad, shedding a leaf.

I also started a free self-defense class at the school for moms. We had one class so far, and only six women came. There were others who expressed interest but couldn’t make it.

Given a new home and thriving.

Small classes are fine with me, but it will be interesting to see if attendance grows due to word of mouth. The women who came seemed to really get into it and enjoy themselves.

Check out those roots!

Maybe I’ll never get back to my regular Jiu-Jitsu classes, where I was a student. I hope to, if for no other reason than to get Sensei back in there with me so I can show him what for! But even if not, at least that journey led me to something I’m truly passionate about: teaching women to be a force to be reckoned with should anyone foolishly try to attack them. 🙂

Growing a new shoot.

How do you handle speed bumps, actual or metaphorical, or people ahead of you going suuuuuuuper slowly over them? Would you want to join my class? How do you like my plant now? 🙂

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