It was one of those shopping centers with stores lined up next to each other and a huge parking lot in front. We came out of the store and looked to both sides of the street to check that no cars were crossing nearby. All clear. There was one approaching from our right, but far enough, he would certainly stop.

We started walking to cross because pedestrians have the right of way in such parking lots. And the car approaching from the right kept moving and moving.

I gave him a side look, kind of to say, “don’t you realize we are here, brother? Crossing the street in front of you?” The car kept approaching, showing no signs of braking. We were almost on the other side when the car was just like 3 feet away, I turned to the driver and gestured the universal, “What’s wrong with you, man?”

And the guy, instead of apologizing for almost hitting us, just gave us the finger and hand signs that basically said, “I don’t care you are crossing, I didn’t plan to stop anyway.”

At that moment, my survival instincts kicked in and a rush of angry thoughts came to my mind, like a violent stream of water rushing through a fall. “What the hell is wrong with this guy? We are in a shopping center! You have to yield to pedestrians! It’s the law! It’s a universal rule! Don’t you know how to drive or what? And then you do it on purpose? You weren’t even distracted. Do you think you own the street?”

My heart started racing, my mind getting cloudy with discontent. And as we got into the car, my wife and I briefly discussed that guy’s unwillingness to stop. And then I told her, hold on. Let me make a note in my phone to write an email about this. To me, every experience in life is an opportunity to philosophize and reflect on my thoughts and actions.

As you can tell, anger was trying to take possession of my mind. It lasted for a minute or so. But I caught myself in the act and gradually let the strong emotions go.

Was the guy wrong? Yes, he was! You always yield to pedestrians where pedestrians are free to cross. I am certain this guy knew that; he knew better and yet, he decided not to obey the laws.

The Yogis teach that everyone is doing the best they know how, but sometimes, people don’t do that. A lot of times, people just decide to be jerks.

And you have to deal with it. It’s inevitable to meet people like this guy regularly. People who care little about the common good and living in harmony. Don’t get triggered. And if you start getting triggered, like it was happening to me, bring your attention back to your breath. Slow it down. Let the emotions pass like clouds in the sky. Control your reaction, don’t waste precious energy.