Responding to Anger

Wherever I go I come across people so quick to anger and find myself reacting in the same way, some of the time.

It wasn't always this way and although I'm 33, I remember a time when I could go out and about and greet others with the same smile they extended to me, respond to a friendly nod, and appreciate a handshake offered in thoughtful consideration.

I remember when my dad never locked his front door, and we never had worries of an intruder because we trusted more than we feared and our neighbors could be thought of as being, well, neighborly.

Now, I witness a lack of self control, outbursts of rage, and displays of self entitlement on a daily basis.

When in stores if I politely say excuse me to a woman with a cart full of goods blocking my way, I'm met with a sigh of irritation; annoyance that she would then have to move her cart to the side so that other shoppers could pass.

When I'm in traffic, I see an endless stream of cars refusing to let mergers in, and at the same time notice the reaction when some race to the front of a lane only to force themselves in front of everyone else.

When out on my morning walks I would observe as people walked by trash, even though they were passing by one of a few trash cans on the trail, too lazy or too self important to bend down, pick the refuse up and dispose of it properly.

Little acts of kindness are just that; rare, while selfishness is pervasive and one can only imagine if it's only going to get worse.

I recall watching a movie some time ago, Point of No Return, starring Bridget Fonda. The movie was average, but a quote stood out for me; the one in which Anne Bancroft's character, Amanda, says in a calm and soothing voice, "I never did mind about the little things…"

I often repeat that when under stress and find that for me, personally, it helps, especially when I encounter rude behavior and don't want to respond in kind.

I also remember a photograph my brother sent me several years ago; such a simplistic image, but moving nonetheless. The man's jacket said, "Smile Every Day."

Do we?

What has happened that etiquette and thoughtfulness are something to be surprised by, while their negative counterparts are far more common place?

I could be ignorant, but isn't life easier now than it was in the past? Wouldn't that make our lives more pleasant and enjoyable, or is life nowadays so frenzied that we only have time to worry about ourselves and we're not so much rude (we think) but only ambivalent and perhaps indifferent?

Other than a complete overhaul of self-centered personalities, the gentle beauty in life and of humanity will be something to marvel at and find inspirational, when in fact such positive attributes should be ordinary because people, in general, are.

I know I am and want to do my part; one action at a time. We can only control how we respond to things so when confronted with rudeness or anger, should we make the effort to take a deep breath, smile inside, say to ourselves that we don't mind the little things, and move on?