The eternal recurrence of absent turn signals

Ever wonder why some cars don’t come equipped with turn signals?

That’s what I ask myself every time someone makes a turn in front of me without giving so much as a hint. It really bugs me, especially when it requires me to pull off some Evel Knievel-type evasive maneuvers to avoid smashing into them. And it is frustrating when I have to wait in vain for someone to make a turn they ultimately don’t make. Just like the other day …

I stopped at a corner and signaled to make a left turn. Another car was coming down the street toward me, and by the looks of it, was headed straight. So, I waited to acknowledge their right of way. But instead of going straight, they suddenly made a right turn. Oh, did I go off! Not out loud, albeit just as irritated.

“What the heck?!” I fumed (to myself 😉). “Was your car delivered without indicators!? Or do you have one of those antique automobiles built before the blinker was invented? I don’t think so! And even if your car is that old, you could resort to hand signals to show where you want to go! So, how about next time, you use that little lever on your steering wheel so I don’t have to sit here waiting until Your Majesty stoops to reveal their itinerary?! I could be halfway up the hill by now, for crying out loud!!”

But then, out of nowhere, all my frustration with the other driver vanished into thin air. I went from angry to calm so quickly that I’m still trying to understand how I got there. Within milliseconds I thought (without actually thinking) …

What am I doing?!
Why am I hinging my actions (and state of mind!) on what someone else is doing?
Why do I insist that everyone signals where they are going?
Why am I getting so worked up about what others do or don’t do?
Why don’t I focus on something else instead?

While I was asking myself these questions, I was already enjoying the liberating feeling released by the answers. In the meantime, my mind still had to get to where my emotions had already taken me, which was:

If I focus on what is happening instead of what I require to happen, I won’t get stressed out over unfulfilled expectations! After all, how does the saying go? “Expectations are premeditated resentments.”

With that in mind, I excitedly crossed the intersection, curious as to what will happen once I pay attention and observe, rather than demand and expect. 😁

Brigitte K. Schneider
aka Ms. Blinkity Blink

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