Yielding to Others Gives Them a Gift and Costs Us Little
The largest event venue in our area is downtown. It requires finding a place to park and paying for the privilege. My family and I always use a parking ramp that offers convenient access to the venue and isn’t as exorbitant as other options.
To access the ramp, however, requires us making a left-hand turn into the only entrance. With oncoming traffic always present, this could present a daunting challenge. Yet it does not.
The first time I encountered this dilemma, I waited behind a string of cars waiting to turn left to park. I quickly surmised I’d not be able to use this ramp and would need to seek another place to park. Yet what I saw amazed me. It still does.
Though many of the oncoming cars drove by the ramp, the car next in line to make a right-hand turn into the ramp motioned to the next car in the left-hand turn lane to go first. Then they followed. The car behind them offered the same courtesy.
Driver after driver repeated this pattern, car after car.
In no time at all our car sat in front of the left-turn lane. The driver next up in the right-turn lane, with his turn signal on, motioned for me to go first. I did, and then he followed.
Over the years, we’ve gone to many events at this arena and have always parked in this ramp, experiencing this same courtesy every time.
Only once did I ever witness this unexpected civility not happen. The driver waiting to make a right-hand turn inched his vehicle forward, as if glued to the car ahead of him. He had every right to go next, and he took it.
The driver after him, however, reverted to this uncommon practice.
There are, of course, many scenarios when we can take turns or let someone go first. Though these can occur while we’re in our car, many more opportunities present themselves when we’re on foot. It takes little time or effort to gesture for someone to go before us.
Though I sometimes forget to do this, I succeed more often than I fail. Doing so offers others a gift.
Since it’s more blessed to give than to receive, I enjoy a blessing each time I do.
When we insist on going next, we place ourselves—our needs, agenda, and schedule—above others. When we let others go before us, we honor them with undeserved kindness.
What a delightful way to go through life. It costs us little and offers them much. And each time we give this simple gift to others, we feel a bit better about ourselves.
Life Lesson: Let’s seek opportunities to take turns or let others go first.
Read more in Peter Lyle DeHaan’s latest book Sticky Living featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips, part of the Sticky Series.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has managed, owned, and started multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management.
He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain.