Most people are pretty good

 Before leaving, in the chilly cold, for physical therapy yesterday, I was reading The Overstory, which recommended to me by running friend, and English teacher, Tim. The Pulitzer Prize committee thought it was pretty good, and I don't disagree, but after the happy opening vignettes of people's relationships with trees, it has turned a bit dark, with environmental protesters suffering unconstitutional law enforcement. It was enough to make me rather glum about the human species in general.

Time to put the book down and ride to my appointment. I'd been looking forward to the day with a forecast high starting with a numeral three, which I hadn't seen in a few weeks, but at my 9AM departure, the thermometer was reading a solitary digit. Sometimes a little discomfort to overcome can be just the salve to rub a emotional funk right, but maybe I've acclimated or my cardboard fairing is too effect for the cold to fully snap me out of funk.

I should clarify, my "funks" aren't aweful places. I've led an amazingly fortunate life, so I'm more generally genuinely happy. When I don't feel so, I just start contemplating how I can further exit the confines of the modern world. I believe homo sapiens haven't had enough time, on an evolutionary scale, to adapt to the world we've created. I sum this up with, "If the modern world doesn't drive you crazy, you're either not paying attention or have amazing coping skills." I tend to observe, so my coping has been to avoid, in my way, modern living, such as not owning a car.

So, minor funk still in place, when the vehicle passing me part way to PT slowed to pull alongside me, I was emotionally primed for a negative reaction, especially since the car had needed to wait to allow opposing traffic to pass. Nope, I was instead greated with, "I like your thing, your distance keeper!"

"I do to, thank you!"

Old photo

I've since removed the survey tape streamer.

It's hit A LOT less without it!

I waved, smiled, and kept smiling for the couple miles left in my trip. I've mentioned before the road engineering 85% rule: all but 15% of drivers will travel at a reasonable and safe speed for the conditions. In my perspective, I've expanded this rule beyond speed to say that the majority of people are pretty darn good things. It's just too easy to focus on that unpleasant 15%. They unfortunately make their presence really known.