Give People The Benefit Of The Doubt

I admired Ann Brenoff's post:
"Long after people have forgotten your words, they remember how you made them feel. The ability to show restraint is a virtue. Don't get mad and don't get even. Just let it go. Life is cluttered with petty annoyances and small injustices. Not every one of them is worth addressing. Being angry at every slight, at every instance of life not behaving fairly -- it's all just too energy-zapping. Letting go instead of exploding is often the emotionally healthier route. The world is populated with a lot of jerks. It's also populated by pretty decent folks who on occasion have a jerk-like moment. The trick is in differentiating between the two. Give people the benefit of the doubt."

Seems like it's too easy for some people to jump (to conclusions, off a cliff of anger) whenever they don't get what they want. Most of the people around us aren't doing things to spite us or to cause problems for the people around them; they're just muddling along in their lives, doing the best they can, trying to stay on top of life. So if someone inadvertently mucks up your life, there's no need to go ballistic. Just point out how their actions have affected you. Your response can keep the situation from escalating and can promote positive interactions with others. What you sow often is what you reap.