Kindness in the Car

In some places, driving has become a competitive sport of sorts involving much tension, aggression, and anxiety - even in places where traffic is not a problem.  Perhaps tapping into some primeval instinct to be first, to conquer, many people don't even want another car to get in front of them.
   If you want to become a nicer person, start with your driving.  Let people in ahead of you (not so many though that the drivers behind you become angry), quash the aggression that causes you to go faster and faster and feel that you must be first. 
   When you need to get into the next lane, don't speed up and try to get in front of the car that is already 2 lengths ahead of you.  Get behind that car.  (I don't know why people always try to speed ahead here in D.C. to get into the next lane when there's plenty of space behind the car).

   If you can be a gracious driver, it will improve your day!

The Trials of Love

Loving is difficult, especially when we have loved ones who are going through trying times, who are unhappy, even bitter.  We can try to be supportive, but when that doesn't work, and they retreat into themselves and their misery, we can try to understand and do our best not to blame them for their coldness or their anger as they lash out against everyone who cares for them.  We must remind ourselves that love means harboring no resentment toward them, no anger; sometimes, we simply have to wait.