Day 63: A Flash of Headlights

On my way home from work I was driving down a curvy road that isn't well lit. A car was pulled over to the "side" of the road, and as I approached, a second car drove into my lane to go around the pulled over car. I will admit my frustration and the possible use of some not nice words as I hit my brakes to avoid a head-on collision. The car drive towards me then flashed their head lights. I thought to myself, "Seriously? This guy's mad at me?" Then I got frustrated with the initial car that was pulled over; how hard is it too actually pull off the road a bit more? 

All of these thoughts went through my head in less than 45 seconds, and they all flew out just as quickly. As I drove slowly past the pulled over car I noticed something in the road. I assumed it was a cardboard box, it looked big. I drive closer and to my amazement a full-grown deer was sitting in the road. The deer was alert, but clearly something was wrong as it continued to sit in the road as cars drive by. My stomach sank and I almost pulled over myself, but then it all clicked together. The pulled over car was parked opposite the deer, just a foot or two in front. Clearly that driver had positioned their car to be a warning to both sides of traffic. And the second driver, the "head-light flasher" was warning me of the deer. 

I became that driver. I flashed the next several drivers, going they would slow down. I'm grateful for that whole situation, because it made me slow down, literally, and rethink a frustrating situation. I'm still saddened at the thought of the beautiful deer in the road, but I'm grateful for the lesson I was reminded by: don't jump to negative conclusions, and always try to think of a positive spin to each situation.  I know the first driver may have had nothing to do with the deer, and the second driver could have just been being a jerk; but it certaily feels better going to sleep thinking positively than frustrated.