“Dam Michigan Driver!”

Have you ever complained about a driver from another state? I find it rather comical these days when I hear so many fellow Ohio drivers do just that with vehicles whose license plates are from Michigan.

“Dam Michigan driver!” 

I hear things like this all the time, except I’m kind of censoring myself at the moment, because more than not, there are far more negative words used in those statements around here.

What’s funny is that when I’ve been in a car with someone from Michigan, they do the same with Ohioans. Even funnier was when I lived in Massachusetts, as there they did the same with those from Connecticut or New Hampshire. And when I lived in Northern Virginia, it was with those from Maryland or Washington D.C. Frankly, I can even go all the way back to the state I grew up in, which was New York, as even there everyone constantly seemed to be irritated with drivers from New Jersey.

So what gives? Is everyone from every state just a bad driver then?

Of course not.

The reality is that people like to complain about another driver because it takes the focus off of themselves and any possible lack of road courtesies they might have. Truthfully that’s why anyone complains about another whether it’s on the road or not. So long as a person keeps looking at another’s apparent display of ignorance, they aren’t ever going to look in the mirror at any of their own shortcomings and make changes within themselves to see things differently.

I used to be guilty of this myself a long time ago, but I honestly don’t pay attention to things like this when I’m driving now because it’s not worth expending the negative energy. And frankly it’s far too draining to do so.

Like I’ve said before in some of my previous entries in here, any time I’m pointing the finger at another with something I perceive is doing something wrong, I really need to be pointing that finger, and many more, back at myself, because usually when I’m doing so, I’m ignoring a selfish or self-centered area of my life that still needs to be worked on. But the more I’ve worked on myself and drawn closer to my Higher Power, which is God, the more I’ve had patience on the road with everyone, and the more I’ve seen drivers do plenty of things that I once did myself.

Honestly, it really all just comes down to judgment. If I’m judging another on the road or wherever for that matter, I ultimately am simply just refusing to look in the mirror and see any of my own inadequacies…

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson