Ep. 48: Holiday Spirit on the Road

The holidays bring joy, lights, and—let’s be honest—a little more stress on the roads. In this episode, Randy explores how seasonal pressures impact our driving behavior, and why this time of year is the perfect opportunity to shift into a more generous, patient mindset behind the wheel. From last-minute shoppers to icy road conditions, we unpack how to channel the true holiday spirit—even in traffic.

💡 Topics include:

• Emotional self-regulation during holiday commutes
• Seasonal spikes in crashes and stress
• Why gratitude and space management matter more than ever
• The “emotional residue” that builds while driving
• Real-life examples of kindness (and chaos) on the road

🎁 Plus, hear how Randy learned to replace frustration with compassion—and how you can too.

Chapters

• 0:12 My Holiday Impatience Story
• 0:57 Giving at the Holidays
• 1:38 December Driving is Different
• 3:02 Merging at the Holidays
• 3:47 The (Holiday) Spirit of Inclusion
• 4:28 My Phantom Jam story
• 5:02 Patience is Survival (in December)
• 5:46 Wrap up: Pass it On
• 6:21 Conclusion/CTA - Send me Your Holiday Story!

Transcript

I honked at someone this week. I got impatient... and a bit aggressive. And I'm the guy who preaches patience.

We were crawling through a residential street near the farmer's market---cars parking, pedestrians everywhere, holiday decorations up. The driver in front of me was being cautious, maybe even overly so... and I honked. Then I darted around him.

When he caught up to me while I was parking, he rolled by slowly and said, "Wow. That was really nice of you," with that sarcastic edge that cuts right through you.

It hit me hard.

[Intro Music]
Segment 1: Even I Forget Sometimes 
It's embarrassing. And humbling. Because I teach this stuff. I live it, I breathe it---and still, I had a moment of ego. Of stress. Of forgetfulness.

And that's kind of the whole point of this episode. Around the holidays, we talk a lot about giving---gifts, time, meals, charity. But the most overlooked kind of giving? Giving each other a break. Giving each other a little space. Giving ourselves permission to mess up, then do better next time.

That farmer's market moment reminded me how quickly I can slip---especially during a busy season. But it also reminded me how important it is to come back to what I teach.

Maybe you've had moments like that too: you snapped, or cut someone off, or muttered something you regretted. You're human. So am I. This podcast isn't about perfection. It's about awareness. And about choosing to do better the next time we get behind the wheel.

Segment 2: Holiday Streets Are Different (90 seconds)
Traffic is always intense this time of year. Not just the volume, but the vibe.

More distracted drivers running last-minute errands. People rushing to get to family gatherings or religious services. Out-of-town visitors unfamiliar with the roads. Kids in cars, decorations on dashboards, music playing louder than usual.

It's joyful chaos, but it's still chaos. The kind that makes little mistakes more likely---and big reactions more dangerous.

December driving is different. People are stressed. Roads are packed. Parking lots feel like war zones. You've seen it. People circling endlessly for the perfect spot. Fighting over a parking space. 

But every now and then---someone waves you in. They pause, smile, and give you that closer spot. Even if they were there first.

That's the gift of patience. And this time of year, it's more than a virtue---it's a necessary survival skill.

Segment 3: The Gift of Patience (90 seconds)
Holiday traffic is a test---not of driving skill, but of character.

And here's the thing: that patience doesn't stop at the curb. When we practice it on the road, we carry it into our homes. Into our family dinners. Our relationships.

It's like a rehearsal for the moments when we'll need it most---when someone says something frustrating at Christmas dinner. Or forgets a gift. Or just shows up carrying more stress than joy.

Traffic gives us the chance to train that muscle---to remember that patience isn't passive. It's powerful.

When you're sitting at that red light, feeling your blood pressure rise, remind yourself: this is practice. This moment right here---where you choose not to honk, not to tailgate, not to make that aggressive lane change---this is where character gets built.

And the beautiful part? Nobody's watching. Nobody's grading you. You're doing it simply because it's the right way to move through the world.

Segment 4: Letting People In (90 seconds)
Let's talk about merging.

There's this moment I once saw in a packed shopping center parking lot. Someone was trying to exit Target, completely stuck. Nobody was letting them out. And then---one driver paused. They waved them in.

Three seconds. That's all it took. But for the person waiting, it probably changed their whole day.

Maybe that driver just wanted good karma. Or maybe they saw themselves in the person trying to get out. Either way, they chose generosity over getting ahead by one car length.

Here's what I've learned from years of watching traffic: the drivers who let people merge, who wave pedestrians across, who give up that perfect parking spot---they're not losing anything. They're gaining peace of mind. They're building the kind of world they want to live in, one small gesture at a time.

And that spirit of inclusion? That's what the holidays are supposed to be about. Not just decorating your house or buying the perfect gifts, but making space for others. Literally and figuratively.

Segment 5: Practice Generosity in the Car (90 seconds)
Generosity doesn't have to be grand. It can look like:

Letting someone merge without a grudge.
Not tailgating someone who's clearly lost or unsure.
Waiting an extra second at a 4-way stop instead of racing for your turn.
Waving someone in with a smile---even if you don't feel like it.
Giving the gift of patience to a delivery driver blocking your lane.

These little actions create real ripple effects. They cool down the temperature of the road. They remind us that there are human beings in every vehicle---not just obstacles in our way.

A while back, I was driving on the Florida Turnpike during a phantom jam---you know the kind, where there's no real accident, no construction, just a slow wave of congestion. I was holding a constant speed in the left lane, and a car came flying up behind me, swerved onto the shoulder, passed me illegally, and honked as they went by.

I was frustrated. But then something surprising happened. A second car passed me slower, and the driver rolled down their window and said, "Where do they think they're gonna go?"

I actually laughed. Because it reminded me: there are people like me out here. People who get it. We're not all in a rush. Some of us understand that in traffic---especially during the holidays---patience is survival.

Segment 6: Let This Season Be Different (60 seconds)
There's a special kind of magic in December traffic. The decorations. The music on the radio. The sense that something matters a little more than usual.

This year, don't just decorate your house. Decorate your driving. Wrap your commute in patience. Tie a bow on that quick temper. Give the gift of grace to people you'll never meet again.

Even if they never say thank you... you will know.

You'll know that you chose kindness when you didn't have to. That you gave someone a break when the world was demanding you rush. That you practiced the holiday spirit in the most unexpected place---bumper-to-bumper traffic.

And maybe, just maybe, that person you let in will remember. And they'll pass it on to someone else. And that's how change happens---not through grand gestures, but through tiny acts of generosity that ripple outward in ways we'll never see.
Conclusion: Be the Driver You Want Others to Be (45 seconds)
So this week---as you're out there navigating crowded roads and full parking lots---remember: you're not just driving. You're practicing patience. You're offering kindness. You're choosing grace in moments when nobody would blame you for choosing frustration.

Every merge. Every slow brake. Every moment you don't honk when you easily could... That's the real Christmas spirit.

Be the driver you wish everyone else was. Not just in December---but all year long.

If this episode helped you reflect or feel a little more human this holiday season, share it with a friend. Post it in a local Facebook group. Send it to someone you carpool with.

And remember: even in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you get to decide what kind of energy you bring to the road.

Stay safe and patient this holiday season.
I'll see you out there---and I'll let you merge.