Celebrating a Car Accident

You might ask, how in the world can I celebrate a car accident?  I am blessed to be able to find blessings and lessons in a car accident.

On April 15^th, I was in a car accident.  I was driving on a country road behind a jeep at around 45 mph.  As we approached an intersection where the light was green, the driver of the jeep went into a left turn lane.  Suddenly he turned right across the lane that I was in.  I slammed my brakes on and my tires squealed!  I thought my car would stop in time but caught his back tire and muffler with the middle of my grill. I immediately got out of my car to make sure the man wasn’t hurt and check my car.  The gentleman got out of his jeep, started yelling at me, and calling me names.  I was stunned!  He caused the accident! Why is he yelling at me!? 

Luckily there were emergency responders in the vehicle behind me, and they stopped to make sure everyone was ok.  I returned to my car to turn off the engine and the jeep driver was following me yelling.  The emergency responders stood between me and the yelling driver and sent him back to his vehicle.  My legs were shaking from the adrenaline, and I couldn’t remember how to use my new phone to call the police. 

When I realized I couldn’t operate my phone and my legs were shaking uncontrollably, I stood to the side of the road and closed my eyes.  The EMT with me was concerned, but I told him I just needed to calm down.  After a few cycles of my breathing practice, I was back to myself. I returned no longer shaking, my mind was clear, and I was able to joke around with them while we waited for the police.  They were surprised at the quick response to the breathing techniques, and I told them that I teach these methods and meditate.  While waiting for the officers, I had quite a nice conversation with the gentlemen who offered their witness statements about the strange lane change by the jeep driver.  After all was said and done, the jeep was towed away because its muffler had been pulled off, its driver ticketed, and I was able to drive my car home.   So, as I speak this long about the accident, you’ve got to be thinking, what is there to be celebrated?

The things I learned from that accident were amazing and I am grateful for the experience! 

Here are the things that this accident showed me.

1.      Blessings

a.      Nobody was hurt to allow me to recognize the blessings and lesson in this situation.

b.     EMTs were there to give a statement as witnesses.

c.      I met some wonderful people who were kind and thoughtful.

2.      Breathing technique

a.      The breathing techniques that I teach are engrained enough in my life that it was automatic to use it to reduce the stress (and adrenaline) of the situation.

b.     I was able to show the EMTs that meditation and breathing methods can be used in everyday situations to bring thought back to the mind of people in stressful situations. They were surprised that just a few breaths could change my state of mind so quickly.

3.      Car

a.      My car disabled and didn’t have to be towed away.  It was amazing that the hood wouldn’t close (or open) but the radiator was intact.

b.     I drove home knowing that the other driver would be ticketed and was able to contact his insurance company for compensation. 

c.      I received more money than expected for my 18 year old car with 310,000 miles. 

4.      What’s the lesson? On my way home I wondered why this happened? What was the lesson in this situation?  I am pleased that I thought about that. 

a.      A few days later, another person turned right from the left lane in front of me.  Because I needed to know this was a lesson, I was more aware and avoided the collision.

b.     A week or so later, a person that I considered a friend took a sudden turn and decided to attack me verbally. I was thrown and sad, but took it as part of the journey for both of us.   

c.      Lesson learned, stay calm and be ready for people to take sudden turns. It’s OK.

I am so pleased with the result of that accident.  I learned that I have truly integrated my focus on a higher purpose into my life.  I feel proud that I have integrated my spiritual practice into my personality enough to not feel sorry for myself, but to recognize the blessings in the situation.  I wasn’t angry that day, but I am still sad about my old reliable car being so damaged.