car accident

today it was 55 degrees and dreary. really yucky outside, to be honest. the perfect type of day for three things:

1 - napping
2 - shopping for items you do not really need nor can you afford
3 - getting into a car accident

well - in my day, i managed to have all three. now, i am not really sure if this makes me an overachiever or a lazy, debt-ridden girl who has a bad headache, but either way i am chalking today up as a total success.

why?

a) the accident wasn't my fault - i was rear ended.
b) the jeep can take a licking and keep on ticking = no damage
c) i got a nap (who wouldn't be happy about that?!)
d) i found a pair of shoes on clearance at the jcp and paid for them with cash i had found in my jeans pocket (yes, they were THAT on sale)
e) the cop who responded to the scene was pretty hot (ok - i am totally biased...it was my husband)

but mostly, because

f) it gave me a chance to practice compassion and loving-kindness

the woman that hit me was so concerned over her error and had tears in her eyes due to worrying that i was ok (which i was) and that i wouldn't be angry and nasty to her (which i wasn't). i mean, no one likes to be rear-ended in the rain but it happens to the best of us and i am sure she meant no harm. i found myself actually joyful in reassuring her that everything was alright and watching her relax away fear on her face. i totally forgot about the accident and became wrapped up in my focus on making sure she was not too hard on herself.

and you know what? it was the right thing to do. it was a great way to take a crappy situation and make the best of it - including offering empathy and patience to the person "in the wrong".

i felt great - no harm, no foul - but i think my husband (in super serious cop mode) was mortified at the thought that i might actually hug the woman who ran into the back of my car.