I got in about 20 minutes ago from a run — jog-walk, really. My legs are a bit achy. I pushed myself today, and I’m proud of that. Something noteworthy happened while I was out that I want to write about while I’m sitting here in my workout chair.
It happened on the home stretch of my run. I was walking, trying to catch my breath, and saw a couple walking toward me — on the wrong side of the road. I was immediately irritated. I felt a little stubborn and decided I was going to stand my ground on principle. I was in the right. They were on the wrong side.
I even imagined how I’d respond if one of them had the nerve to correct me:
“You’re supposed to walk against traffic and ride bikes with traffic, dummies.”
(No one actually said anything — that’s just how things happen in my head.)
So I stood firm. I made them walk around me. And I felt good.
And then I saw it: the stop sign.
Right in front of me.
On my side of the road.
I was the one walking on the wrong side.
I was the “dummy.”
I wanted to turn around and apologize, but it felt too late — I’d have to yell to reach them. So I sat with it. And I realized a few things:
- Even when I know I’m right… sometimes I’m not.
- It’s okay to move out of the way, even if you are technically “in the right.”
- I often learn the most when I’m on the wrong side of the street.