Recently, we drove from Rhode Island to West Virginia and back.  Theoretically, it is a seven -hour trip … but we’ve rarely done it in less than nine because of traffic.  Many of us have our own horror stories of traveling I-95 through Connecticut, New York, the George Washington Bridge (or even the Tappan Zee Bridge), then on through New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and on to the Washington DC Beltline.  Traffic jams abound, seemingly at any time of the day or night, year-round!

Anybody who has ridden with me knows that I am not known for my patience in traffic!  This trip, it took us over nine hours each way … traveling on Tuesday – the day after Christmas and returning on Friday – the beginning of a three- day holiday weekend.          Traffic seemed to be worse than usual.  We saw very few accidents … just a heavy volume of cars on the road … most people, I suspect, doing exactly what we were doing … traveling to or from holiday visits with family and friends.

This trip I noticed something slightly different … a subtle shift:  I was aware of more civilized and respectful driving.  By that I mean that when lanes were merging, drivers overall were more courteous.  Sure, there were those obnoxious folks who dared you to try and move into their lane … or dared you to stop them from cutting in front of you as they merged, but overall, folks were of the mind to “give a gap, take a gap.”  It was more like folks simply taking their turns, alternating between moving forward to fill a space and slowing down to make room for another car.

As I reflected on this, I realized that amid the pressure of last-minute Christmas shopping, people seemed politer … holding the door for each other, saying “Thank you!” and “Excuse me!”

Now, this perception on my part could be a result of the phenomenon that “we see what we are looking for” rather than what is there … or it could reflect a subtle shift that is taking place in our society.  It could be that, on some level, we are realizing that we are all in this thing of life together and with that realization comes a willingness to treat people more like the way we would like to be treated.  Actually, I hope both are true … that I am paying more attention to the good in others AND that our culture is changing for the better, even if subtly … even when we are behind the wheel!

Either way, I invite you to become part of this subtle shift … the shift of noticing more of the good as well as simply being more polite as we move about in the world … even when we are behind the wheel.

Live from your Inner Magnificence.  Be mindful of relating to strangers the way we would like to be treated and acknowledged … nothing big, just common courtesy.

To the extent that you accept my invitation is the extent to which the world will be a better place for all to live AND you’ll feel good about being you … I promise!