Right lane mentality
I like to walk on the right side of the sidewalk so that other people coming from the opposite side have room to pass me. People behind me walking faster can pass me, too. When I walk with a friend, I pay attention to my surroundings. When people want to pass us, we move to the right side. If everyone did this, there would be no aggregation. Yet, there are people who walk in the middle of the sidewalk. There are groups of friends who don’t move to the right lane. But when I am walking on the right lane, I hold my ground. I won’t be pushed to the grass or to the road if I see someone walking in the middle of the sidewalk.
Be considerate, but know when people are walking all over you. Everyone is entitled to some room on the sidewalk.
In America, we are living in a state of wealth inequality. Wages are low, gas prices are high, and eviction rates are up. As a response to this distress, articles have been written about how you can work to be happier in your workplace (by having a more positive outlook). People are trying to convince us that money doesn’t buy happiness, but they fail to mention that constant financial struggle brings chronic pain. Many articles out there are trying to convince us that we should make the best out of being kicked off the sidewalk into incoming traffic. It’s okay to fight for the things that you’ve worked for. You have as much right to take up space, time and resources as other people do. There is no need to make yourself small, so that others, who are already taking up too much space, can take up more space.
Every now and then it is okay to be kicked off the sidewalk. Sometimes when you’re at the store check-out line and someone takes too long arguing with the cashier about a coupon, it is super easy to get frustrated. It is easy to make the entire situation about you and your time and your convenience. You can stand in the line and get silently pissed off, as most people do. You can also join in on the heated argument if you’re feeling feisty. There’s another option: you can use this time to think about something else entirely. Meditate on the past, the present or the future. You can step off the sidewalk today and sit on the grass for a little while, while the obnoxious people pass by. Sometimes, they are just not worth your trouble.
The difference between these two situations is very slight, but I hope you understand the difference. And next time you’re walking on the sidewalk, you consider using the right lane.
