Does America need a time-out

[Anne Badgley]

Camping is a great "time-out". It makes people happy and nice.

Hmmm! That explains why there seems to be more neighborliness in campgrounds than in city neighborhoods! People are in control of their lives and doing what they enjoy!

Perception is part of the problem. It has been said that we are more likely to become irritated with behavior when we attribute a selfish motive. I've seen this suggestion: when a driver is speeding and cutting thru traffic, would you be as irritated if you found out his wife was in labor in the back seat? Imagine that the next bad driver you encounter is rushing to the bedside of his dying mother. It does change irritation to sympathy to assume a "good" motive.

What often helped me to restrain my middle finger when I was driving in San Diego traffic was to imagine that the person in that car was the next face I saw in my volunteer work. How could I convince them that I want to help them out of the kindness of my heart when I had just cursed them out that morning on the road? It helped me to maintain my own sense of accountability for my reactions.

[Raya]

There sure seem to be a lot of people rushing to the hospital these days

Seriously though, I know what you mean, Anne. I try to think nice thoughts like that, and it does help.... most of the time....

Raya