The Amygdala Protocol

The amygdala ( plural amygdalae ) is located in the brain of Complex Vertebrates, human beings included. Research has shown that the major role of the Amygdala is to process memory, decision making and emotional responses including fear, anxiety, and aggression. So basically speaking, this part of the brain controls how we react in any given situation. You know, like those times that crazy driver not only cuts you off during traffic,  but also scratches your car?  Just imagine the most annoying thing another person could do to you and what your response would be.

Hmm. Let me tell you a story .
I live in a house with an access road from hell. You have to drive through literal rivers  filled with  boulders, Stones, Craters (and  one or two Alligators probably)
Today , on my way out, I was mentally grimacing at the grinding sound from the ‘Legs’ of my car. The mechanic says the shocks are dead. Sigh!  I'm waiting for the wake...
Anyways back to the Story. I was engaged in serious mental arithmetics on how I could drive through the River Jordan so that my poor vehicle would  not be converted into a submarine.

 Next thing I heard one woman shouting  "Ehhh!  Car Driver, stop driving, did you not see me?!"

 That was when I saw the woman also trying to pass over the water body on the road.  She was climbing the bags and tree stumps placed in the water for pedestrians and I think the movement of my car had made the water swell over the stumps placed by the side of the road.

"Madam" I replied in a very peeved voice, " All you had to do was ask me to stop and not yell at me like that"

"Why do I have to tell you,  why won't you see me?" She retorted. By this time,  she was shrieking and I could see her neck veins almost bursting through her bleached neck.

 "Because as you are thinking of your trouble, me too I'm thinking of mine and you are not part of  my trouble" I shot back at her.

 By this time I was very upset and yelling back.  I Still do not know why I went from 0 to 100 degrees in a split second. Let's blame the Amygdala. It failed to do its job.

The woman wasn't giving up that easy "Because you have car,  Oya, carry your car and go"

Not my proudest moment... But at that point, it felt as if there was a prize for the person that would have the last word. So I gave it back to her.
"Ehh! Hug transformer na! Don't transfer your frustration to me!
I didn't stop there.
By this time,  I was now literally clapping my two hands , leaning out through the window and shouting in face me I face you voice,
"Madam, Please carry your problem! Carry it! I'm not the source of your problem! Carry it, I don't want! "
I actually kept on driving beside her and yelling until I felt I had won the prize.

Now I am at home.  I am mortified at my behaviour. I cannot believe that person was Me. What if someone that knew me had seen me?

I am looking for who to blame.
However, the truth is, I am to blame.  The Amygdala does not control me, rather I do.  If only I had counted to ten and taken a deep breath,  I would have given the Amydala time to activate and give the appropriate command to my mouth and I would not have been a fish wife today.

Why don't you try it? Next time someone gets on your nerves,  take a deep breath and count to ten.
If you feel the Amygdala has not kicked in sufficiently, Repeat the process
Don't be like me.  Follow the Amygdala Protocol everytime.