Old Habits
I’m getting rid of some of my pets. The peeves mostly. I have too many, they’re a drain on my emotional resources, and I don’t want to become known as a curmuddgeon. So, here they are in no particular order. Drivers who can’t read the signs that say the left lane is for passing only. Drivers who speed up when I decide to pass with my cruise control on. Drivers who don’t use cruise control. Drivers who leave their diesel pickups idling in a parking lot. Drivers who tailgate. People who use the word shoppe or any words similarly twisted.
The decision came to me this past weekend when I was walking with a friend through a parking lot. There sat a brand new diesel pickup, empty, with its engine idling. The peeve popped right up and when it did, I told it to sit back down. It occurred to me most people don’t care about idling diesels, so listening to me whinge about it would probably come off as petty and boring. Heck, even I’ve gotten tired of listening to myself.
I suspect ignoring these peeves might be hard because by now they’re largely autonomic, which means they just kick in. But as an old dog, who has managed to learn a trick or two, I think I can do it. One big help is cutting back on my driving time. It has allowed me to better prepare for the times when I do. I’ve also tried putting myself in the other person’s shoes and realizing it’s not personal. I have no idea what’s going on in their lives, or why they’re doing what they’re doing. Of course, old habits die hard but I’d like to go out trying to be a better man and this feels worthwhile.