Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I have been trying to find the time to write this post but it’s only today, when I find myself in the backseat of a car going to work, that I have a free moment.

I was driving back from Brooklyn on Tuesday after having picked up the youngest and was wearing my way through traffic and frustration. In the end I seemed to have farted better as far as the traffic was concerned because I let my own impatience get the better of me. Case in point: I was posting through a narrow inlet to get onto the street that takes you to the Manhattan Bridge when some guy tried to stick his nose in. I’m anger I threw my hands up and swerved around him.

Not a minute later I pulled up to a stop and he pulled along side. His window rolled down, he asked if I was okay. I replied yes and then we went back and forth a bit. He pointed out that I couldn’t let him in and I should be a more careful driver, especially with a kid in the car. And, then, he pulled off.

And, you know what? He was right. Right on all counts. Why couldn’t I have let him in? Why did I drive so aggressively? Why is my ego more important than my child’s safety?

I owe this irritated stranger a deep debt of gratitude because I was wrong and he pointed it out.