I am by nature a big girl’s blouse and terribly timid. However, as I age I do seem to be turning into a grumpy old man, especially when I’m out on my bike.
I don’t lose it when I’m involved in an incident that’s not my fault (maybe just a shake of the head), nor if I get yelled at or beeped when the fault’s mine (as occasionally it is). However I do seem to get rather agitated in response to grief received for someone else’s mistake.
I had an incident today where I was cycling down a hill (not overly speedily) when I transit van driver decided that he didn’t want to wait at a side junction and pulled out clearly expecting me (as a cyclist) to stop for him. I went around him and carried on and would have thought nothing much of it if he hadn’t blasted his horn at me resulting in me vigorously raising my middle finger to him! I then had him behind me the rest of the way down the hill worrying that I was going to get walloped (one of these days I might).
So, how do I avoid reacting badly when provoked and then wishing I hadn’t?
