Today I was walking across an intersection when the person in the car at the stop sign honked at me. I turned thinking it was someone I knew. Prepared to wave I stopped when I saw the stranger’s face. Apparently he was angry with how slowly he thought I was walking across the street.  The fact is I was not walking slowly. I was not texting or talking on the phone ambling along, but with a limp I can’t really sprint across like I used to.  I was hurrying as fast as I could but apparently not fast enough for him.

Yes, I was shocked that someone would honk at a pedestrian walking across the street but it happened. And yes, at first I was angry with how rude and unkind his behavior was.  But, I took a deep breath and did not engage. I refused to ego-box no matter how much my ego was screaming for me to tell him off. It was another reminder of the truth that I am not responsible for other people’s behavior. I am only responsible for how I respond to them.