Letting Someone Go Ahead in Line

 I am back trying to get my unpublished book “The Split Second:  In Consideration of Others or Look Up from the Phone and How to Deal with Rudeness in Others” published. I will not give up for right now whatsoever; however, I find there is enough “pushback” against my concept of a society where we all get along and are nice to each other.

I find as I get older, I do not need to be first in line or exert my masculinity by never letting someone go in front of me. Part of this is because I am less stressed now that I am no longer teaching high school and driving some distance to work. However, I think it would be nice if all of us thought about letting that person we encounter in any type of market go ahead of us in the checkout line, particularly when she/he has many fewer items than we have in our overflowing carts. I would like to think that I do that more these days. Part of it is my age, I think

. Also, it is nice while driving in a lengthy line of cars in front of me and behind me to see that driver who is trying to come out of a parking lot when she/he may never be able to get out with all the apparent traffic. I must admit that as I get older, I enjoy stopping for a moment and letting that driver join the traffic line I am in ahead of me. Most times, she/he will give some indication of thanks. When I am in the same position as the driver in the parking lot and someone has let me into an extensive line of traffic, I show my appreciation with a “salute” of thanks and try my best to look that truly kind driver in the eye.

It feels good when we can take a moment or a “split second” to be kind to someone else and perhaps “step back” for a moment and let her/him in front of us. I am amazed at the many people who refuse to do this sort of thing, and will, at any cost, maintain their place in line and never let someone go ahead. This happens many times on the road. I see this ugly practice going on often at the on ramp of a freeway and a given driver will not let me into a lane as I drive onto the freeway. Sad! I will gladly provide that opportunity for others just coming on to the freeway. Maybe if we all were more gracious at times like this, we would have a nicer world.

My book is about thoughtfulness for others. Many have told me that this is slipping away in society. I believe that we can truly become a society where we can all think of others as we “go out in the world.”  It must start somewhere.