I recently got a traffic ticket for stopping a touch late at a stop sign — missing the line by two feet. Undoubtedly fair by the rule of law, but I felt aggrieved. It was a late brake, a spillover, at 8am on a quiet Sunday street without a soul in sight.
My subjective feelings aside, I noticed my “why me” reaction and sat with it for a moment.
Three years ago, I accidentally drove past a stop sign on a similarly quiet road. The officer was kind, understood it was a genuine mistake, and sent me on my way without a ticket*.
I’m pretty sure I didn’t dwell on that stroke of luck anywhere near as long as I dwelt on this one.
It’s easy to ask “why me” when misfortune strikes. If we find ourselves stuck in that loop, it’s worth reflecting on the many times good fortune came our way — and we never thought to ask the question at all.
*I was clearly due a ticket from a karmic perspective. :-)
A Learning a Day 