Seeking Retribution?

"The best revenge is not to be like thy enemy." – Marcus Aurelius.

Have you ever been cruising down the freeway, feeling pretty smug about going 70 in a 65 zone, when suddenly a big truck—because it's always a pickup truck—zooms up behind you at 95 MPH? It swerves around you like it's auditioning for a "Fast and Furious" sequel, practically making you jump out of your skin and fly into the next lane. Seriously, who are these people? Do they have a secret club where they practice their high-speed maneuvers and perfect their road rage?

Do you ever want to be like that person? Most of us would say, "NO, thank you!" I always wonder, who are "those" people? They are just anonymous truck folks. Maybe it's just a truck and there isn't an actual human behind the wheel—just some type of monster because you really have to be a monster to drive like that.

One time, I was in the fast food lane, ordering my usual chicken crunchwrap supreme with chips and cheese when the human/monster in the car behind me started yelling that it was taking too long. Mind you, I had just pulled up, so I'm not sure if they were yelling at me or the poor teenage girl who was getting my food. Again, who is that person? I want to know who these rude, horrible people are that seem to be everywhere in their anonymous vehicles.

Of course, there is much more evil in the world than the obnoxious, impatient person on the freeway or in the fast food takeout lane. These are pretty minor compared to a person you love who betrays your trust, or the adult who suffered horrendous abuse by a parent.

Many times, we don't have the option to seek retribution on these people, and often their actions go without us knowing if they ever suffered a consequence. We don't know if the speeding driver later got into an accident or if the person in the fast food lane got a case of Montezuma's revenge.  Sometimes, the only "revenge" we can take is just to be the best person we can be and not be like them.

So, next time you're tempted to chase down that speeding truck or yell back at the rude person in the drive-thru, channel your inner Marcus Aurelius. Take a deep breath, let it go, and bask in the satisfaction of knowing that you are not like them. After all, the best revenge is living well—and maybe enjoying that chicken crunchwrap supreme with chips and cheese in peace.

"The best revenge is not to be like thy enemy." – Marcus Aurelius