Off The Hook

Have you ever been driving along and some other driver does something that makes you mad?  Happens to me all the time.  When this happens, I tend to carry this feeling of "minor" anger with me for a few miles.

I have a solution that works quite well when I would rather be happy than "justifiably" mad.

I mentally point at the offender and say, "You are off the hook."

It's my way of forgiving a person that has absolutely no idea they have been offensive.  My experience is that when I do this, the resentment and anger go away.

This is not my idea; I heard it from a friend several years ago.  He said he allows himself to let 3 people off the hook every day.  I have used that rule and have never used up my daily allotment.  I think this is mostly because a part of me likes to spend a little time being angry at someone that didn't use a turn signal.

The point here, is that I have a choice.  I can carry the resentment or I can let it go.  When I want to let it go, this tool is helpful  I don't know why it works so well but it has never let me down.

Remember, having a resentment is like taking poison yourself and hoping the other person dies.  It only hurts you in the end.  That person that forgot to signal has no clue about all of the fuming I am doing over that little thing.  It's all about me.

I recommend www.worldgratitudelist.com  Leave a list. Read a list.  Be happy.