This morning started like any other, but something happened on the road that I won’t soon forget. It was a small moment on the outside, but it hit me hard. It reminded me just how important kindness is—and how damaging a lack of it can be. I was shaken, not just because of what happened, but because it brought back a wave of anxiety and memories I carry every time I drive. I’m sharing this here because I know I’m not the only one who’s ever felt this way. Maybe someone out there needs the reminder, too.

After dropping my daughter off at school, I was approaching a 3-way intersection. It’s a spot that already makes me extra cautious because of a past accident I was in. The green arrow was gone—just a regular green light now—and I was waiting to make a left turn. Two cars passed from the opposite direction, and there was one more approaching. It wasn’t that close, but also not far enough where I felt it was safe to go, especially with how people often speed up when they see a turn signal. So, I waited.

Then suddenly, the man behind me honked—loud and aggressively. My heart jumped out of my chest. I glanced in the mirror and saw his angry face, hand gesturing in frustration. For a moment, I felt that pressure to go. I almost turned just to get away from his rage. But something in me said no. I stayed still. I trusted my gut. And thank God I did.

When it was finally safe to go, I made my turn—but then he cut me off. He swerved right in front of me, like he was punishing me for being careful. I heard another honk, but I wasn’t sure if it was him again or someone behind me. My hands were shaking. My anxiety was in full swing. I couldn’t believe someone could be so unkind so early in the morning. It made me wonder what else he might be carrying—or what could’ve happened if I had turned under pressure.

And then it brought me back to another day, one I’ll never forget. My daughter was only 9 weeks old. We were driving cross-country, moving from the Midwest to the East Coast. Our car was full—baby in the back, our cat, and almost everything we owned. Traffic was slow, stop-and-go. Suddenly, we were rear-ended. The man who hit us had been on his phone. He dropped it and was trying to grab it. When he saw our baby crying, saw how scared we all were—he apologized over and over. And I believed he meant it. But still, that day left a scar. Physically we were okay, but emotionally, it shook us. We still carry that fear with us, especially behind the wheel.

So today, after what happened at the intersection, I couldn’t help but think—what if I were someone at the edge? What if someone else in my shoes was already going through something heavy and that kind of encounter was their breaking point? People are out there driving with broken hearts, anxiety, trauma, and grief. And a single moment of cruelty can push them further into that darkness.

You just never know what someone is going through. That’s why I believe so deeply in kindness. It doesn’t cost us anything, but it can mean everything to someone else. It might be the thing that gives them enough peace to make it through the day.

So I’ll leave you with this:

Be kind.
Extend your grace, when needed.
Everyone is fighting their own battles.
Your kindness might give them a reason to hold on a little longer… to keep fighting.
Sometimes, you might even save a life.