Chapter 1: A Surprising Encounter

Today, I had a rather startling experience while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood. As I turned a corner, a woman appeared abruptly in front of my car. I instinctively slammed on the brakes, raising my hand in that universal gesture of apology. Instead of moving aside, she stood in the road, unleashing a torrent of insults regarding my driving abilities, my masculinity, and some rather creative suggestions about self-reproduction.

What’s more, I was barely moving—under 5 MPH—and stopped a good ten feet from where she was walking. In the past, this incident would have lingered in my mind for hours. I would have ruminated over what I might have done to provoke such an angry outburst from a complete stranger, inadvertently handing her power over my mood that she clearly didn’t deserve.

I recently read a thought-provoking idea in "Choose Yourself" that suggested (in my own words) that for any situation, there exists both a good reason and a real reason.

For instance, my son recently attempted to persuade me to buy him a new iPad for his homework (good reason), only to slyly add that it would be great for gaming as well (real reason).

In this case, while the woman was upset because I hadn’t stopped smoothly while she crossed the street (good reason), I am certain there’s a deeper story behind her outburst. Perhaps she’s dealing with personal issues such as a troubled relationship, financial stress, or health concerns for a loved one. Who knows—maybe she’s facing nightly alien encounters. Whatever the case, her reaction spoke volumes about her rather than about my driving.

This perspective allowed me to quickly move past the incident. Why is this important? Well, for those who enjoy poker, I’ll connect the dots shortly. But generally speaking, in life, it is crucial to look for the real reason behind reactions, as that is often the key to understanding and resolution.

I recognize I’ve been guilty of losing my temper with my children because they can’t seem to get along (good reason) while my irritation stemmed from receiving some bad news earlier (real reason). Friends, ex-partners, and family members have also reacted negatively to me due to perceived slights (good reason), only for me to later discover they were grappling with serious issues like illness or job loss (real reason). Seeking out the real reason behind emotions has saved relationships and made me a more patient father and, hopefully, a better partner.

Chapter 2: The Poker Table Perspective

For those poker enthusiasts reading this, why does this matter? At the poker table, we should similarly strive to identify the "real reason" behind a player’s actions. For example, when a player complains about you stealing their blinds (good reason), what they’re really conveying is their inability to effectively counter your strategy, which is why they’re vocalizing their frustration rather than taking action (real reason). Understanding this dynamic allows you to continue raising your bets because they lack the tools to defend against your moves.

Alternatively, if you’ve just lost a significant portion of your chips and find yourself calling bets based on “implied odds” (good reason), you might actually be reacting to the frustration of a lost pot (real reason). Recognizing these real motivations can save you a lot of money and keep you in the game longer. The real reason can set you free (and help you maintain your stack!).

So, in summary, while I could say, "I almost killed someone today," I actually feel empathy for that woman. I hope whatever underlying issues led to her outburst resolve themselves soon.

In the video titled "She Almost Killed Someone on Stream," we see a similar theme of unexpected confrontations and their underlying motivations.

The second video, "I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE," offers an engaging look at how misunderstandings can escalate in everyday life.