cruise control

i experienced something the other day that made me think about the way people drive in america.. i ran out of gas in the middle of route 22. i put on my hazards and waved people around me, because there was really nothing else i could do, but instead of understanding that i couldn't move, most everyone who drove past me honked at me and gave me dirty looks.. one person even flicked me off. i found this ridiculous, like, unless they wanted to get out of their cars and help me push mine to a gas station, what was the big deal with driving around me? obviously i couldn't move, why would i voluntarily park my car in the middle of a busy street?
so, this made me realize how rude people are when they're protected by the aluminum armor of their cars. people think that when they're in their cars, they are invincible. like, when there are three 17-year-old girls stranded in the middle of a busy street, instead of realizing they are having problems and just being considerate by driving around them, or maybe even trying to help (omg, no way), people feel like they can be rude and obnoxious because maybe they're in a hurry, just because they are in their cars and they can drive away right after.
and this made me think about the way i drive. both of my parents are very cautious, passive-aggressive drivers, and that has always annoyed me.. which could be part of the reason i drive the way i do now. i always speed, i honk at people who get in my way or don't move fast enough for me, i yell out my window at people who piss me off.. and being in the situation of someone who is the one who pisses off other aggressive drivers made me realize that i don't want to drive like that anymore. i don't know why so many people drive like that, how big of a hurry could you actually be in? i know i'm never really in that big of a hurry when i do it to other people. i think everyone just needs to relax when they're driving. slamming on your gas and yelling at people out your window ultimately only hurts you by costing you more gas and possibly pissing off someone who could be crazy and follow you and kill you for yelling at them.
so, it might not be easy but i'm definitely going to try to remember this when i'm driving because i realized that there really is no point in driving the way i do, i just need to take a deep breath and cruise.