One day, while waiting in a middle school parking lot for my son to finish his day, I noticed a woman pull in a few spaces away. Immediately, I sensed her frustration; she arrived like a whirlwind and began shouting in her car—completely oblivious to my presence. I couldn’t help but stare, captivated by her raw emotion.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? I JUST WANTED TO BE NICE AND LET THE SCHOOL BUSES GO FIRST!” she yelled. Yes, sister, I feel you. Let it out.
“IF ONLY PEOPLE WEREN’T SUCH OBNOXIOUS ASSHOLES, MAYBE THEY COULD SLOW DOWN AND SHOW SOME KINDNESS!” she continued, her voice filled with exasperation. I couldn’t help but nod along in silent agreement.
Even though I was right there, she remained unaware of my presence. Should I introduce myself?
“I ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING. IS THIS HOW I’M REWARDED? I CAN’T TAKE THIS DAY, THIS WEEK!” As she flipped down her mirror, a cascade of envelopes tumbled down, one even wedging itself into her sunglasses. “GREAT!”
Perhaps approaching her wasn’t the best idea at that moment. Still, I remained an attentive listener, knowing she needed someone to hear her vent.
Looking in the mirror, she adjusted her sunglasses and swiped under her eyes. “CAN THIS DAY GET ANY WORSE? NO MORE BEING NICE. NO MORE SAYING YES!” I briefly considered offering her the bottle of wine I had stashed in my trunk. It seemed like an appealing prospect, but probably inappropriate given the setting. Plus, what if she took it and drove off? I needed to keep my wine.
As she continued her tirade while applying lip gloss, I understood she was a kind person who had perhaps been too accommodating for too long. A simple act of kindness, like letting a stream of school buses go ahead, had resulted in frustration from others. Listening to her vent in what she believed was solitude, I realized we’ve all been there. We might not have lost it in a parking lot, but we’ve all felt moments where a minor issue spiraled into something overwhelming.
She had reached her limit, but despite that, she was still making an effort to compose herself. With one last glance in the mirror, she shoved her bills aside and exclaimed, “Damn!” before running her fingers through her hair. Just then, her daughter approached and slumped into the passenger seat, clearly having had a rough day of her own.
In less than a minute, this mom had managed to vent her frustrations, retouch her lipstick, and fix her hair—all so she could be present for her daughter. She became my unintentional hero that day, a reminder of the impact we have on others. We must remember to slow down, be kind, yet also protect our own well-being. Sometimes, we need to let go, only to pick ourselves back up and move forward.
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In summary, the experience in the parking lot taught me about the importance of emotional release, the need for kindness, and the balance of self-care—reminding us all that we can rise above our frustrations and continue to support those we love.