Sometimes in life, it doesn’t take a whole lot to put someone over that proverbial edge. We need to consider this before we make our stupid decisions.
Where I am, people I know live paycheck to paycheck if they receive a paycheck at all. Some people are living on disability because life just dealt them a bad hand and they have no control over their condition. These are the people who I have complete compassion for because they keep on going and going and going. So, I am fortunate to have this to reflect on as I begin to feel like things are too much. But for today, I want to talk about the little things that have the potential to push someone to the breaking point.
I was out the other day running people around, doing errands and grocery shopping. That in and of itself makes me want to pick a bridge. I have gotten the hang of shopping for seventeen people on a weekly basis and have been able to stretch the money and do alright. It is stressful but by then end of the day, everyone has eaten, washed, dressed, played, worked, eaten again, washed again and got to sleep in a warm, comfortable place, so no complaints here.
What is completely aggravating is when you have your set grocery money and go to buy eggs, and the price has doubled overnight. Shock and awe and then the back and forth about what do we put back so we can pay double for the eggs we need to stay healthy and alive…stress-full. However, unless you are a governing force in this country, this is something you cannot control.
Now, I have to put back baby’s new toy I thought she would love and pay double for the eggs. Ok. I get it. We do that all the time. What people CAN control is what happens on the ride home. The mother of 14 who is disappointed she couldn’t buy a toy for the baby and is angry at the world for the price of food is now in a left turn lane trying to get home. We are all waiting for the light to turn and the guy in front of me, who has been sitting at the light for a long time, decides that this left turn lane isn’t good enough and has to go sideways into the other one. WTH!? So, I patiently sit without blowing the horn or rolling my window down to yell profanities like I should, and ANOTHER person from the lane on the other side of me decides THEY are in the wrong lane and cuts me off going sideways across the lanes of traffic, and I am stuck.
*Loses patience and begins blowing horn yelling profanities with windows closed*
Is it true that you only have to be a good driver for one day, so you pass the exam? That is what this story is saying, and for people who are on the last leg of their BS tolerance, this could very well push them over that proverbial edge. There is no need for this added stress, and it is completely controllable by following the traffic laws. No one is exempt, and maybe if we all followed them, this wouldn’t have to be one of those things that make people jump.
It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Even the little things can make people pick their bridge.