It is easy to get lost in our own heads, to lose sight of everything but ourselves.

Someone cuts you off in traffic, a waitress is rude. We tend to hang onto those moments and make them about us.

'I can't believe he just cut ME off!!'

'How could she treat ME like that? I am her customer!! See if I leave a tip!'

We all do it. It's easy to get stuck in the ME trap.

My mother, when she caught herself doing it, would start making up 'What If' stories to justify their behaviour.

'Maybe he's late for work. Maybe it's the fourth time this week and he's going to be fired if he's late today.'

'Maybe her dog died last night, or maybe she had a fight with her husband before work.'

Sometimes the stories were plausible, and sometimes they were not, but it always served to remind us that other people were human too, and everyone has their own story.

I mean, sure, some people are just assholes, but most likely, they are just having one asshole moment.

So next time you're faced with someone rude or inconsiderate, ask yourself 'What If...'