Relative Something

Yesterday afternoon, the universe generously offered me a wake up call, free of any physical harm. I am wide awake to the message. On my bicycle commute home from the day-job, I ended up inches from becoming enmeshed in the front grill of a tricked-out Jeep.

Sure, Gary told me to be safe, as I left the building. Of course, I acknowledged I would.

I wasn’t.

I had fallen into an over-confident focus on my own intentions, neglecting to sufficiently estimate what those around me might possibly do. For all I know, my luck may have been with the fact that the driver of the Jeep did estimate what I might do, allowing himself to react in the nick of time. I am grateful he wasn’t distracted by anything at the moment he needed to hit the brakes and slide short of making impact with my startled self.

He had his turn signal on. I glanced left, saw his signal indicating he was turning right, then I glanced right and saw I had a short window, so I jumped on the pedals to cross the lanes to turn left.

In the world centered on me, his turn signal meant he would turn onto the road I was leaving. In reality, I was on a secondary road, very close to the intersection of a primary boulevard. He had no intention of turning at the little road I was on, he was indicating he would turn up ahead at the (now obvious to me) controlled intersection.

It is a good thing, when reminders that we aren’t the center of the universe arrive with no bruises beyond our ego.

I was so sure that I was safe by making good decisions, that I fell into a spell of neglecting to make good decisions.

Yes, I am now wide awake. I will be giving renewed energy toward anticipating what the actions will be that drivers around me might, or might not, take.