The other day I was running late to pick up my kids. I try to be organized, but I had to finish something and I headed out later than I had planned to. I’m not irresponsible- I wasn’t really late; if traffic and lights worked in my favor, I would get there just in time, so need to panic. What I hadn’t planned on was the student driver in front of me. I really am a nice person, and I believe everyone deserves a chance to learn, but somehow, whenever I am late, I find myself behind a student driver going agonizingly s-l-o-w-l-y. And even though I try to have respect and patience for this person who is acquiring a new skill, I’ll be honest and admit that driving behind a student driver is a serious pet peeve of mine.

We all have our pet peeves, and there are many that a lot of us share.   A pet peeve is usually a minor annoyance that is particularly annoying to you, even though it might not necessarily bother someone else. Some are sort of rational, others are quirky. I just have to get this one off my chest: I absolutely can’t stand when someone expresses something and then says, “having said that…” I don’t get it! What does that phrase even mean? People use it all the time in writing and speaking, feeling all smug and intellectual, and it drives me crazy! Okay, thank you everyone; I feel much better now.

I don’t know why, but sharing pet peeves can be a stress releaser. Somehow, the things that annoy you so much become funny when you talk about them with other people who can relate in the same way as you can. Is it because misery loves company, or is it because most pet peeves really are minor things, and sharing your experiences of these small irritations helps to put them in perspective? After all, they are usually not real problems, even though they can really get under your skin. Why do people litter? Why do people tell you to smile? If I wanted to walk around smiling, I would, thank you very much! Why is my line at the supermarket always the one that has a problem? So annoying! I wish I could, but I know I can’t change people and I can’t change the world, so I guess these pet peeves aren’t disappearing any time soon. At least I can hope that the student driver crawling in front of me yesterday will get the experience to be a good, polite driver and not one of those obnoxious ones who cut you off and steal your parking spots. I hate that!