Blind Surveillance
Out of Scope
If you're normal, you've probably daydreamed of living a life without work — before retirement. If you're like me, you may have even wracked your brain trying to uncover ways you could make a living without trading your time for someone else's money. And while some people successfully identify legit exits out of the rat race, others take shortcuts.
A 70-year old Italian man was recently charged with fraud after faking complete blindness for more than 50 years. The man, supposedly left sightless after a teenage work accident, robbed the Italian government blind, raking in more than €1 million in disability benefits over 53 years. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.
During a routine cross-check, the finance police saw something suspicious and laid the groundwork to foil this Italian Job. For more than two months the bad actor was followed and filmed navigating the city effortlessly without a dog or cane. He was even seen meticulously inspecting produce at a grocery store. Oops — looks like the jig is up.
The credits eventually rolled on his five-decades-long, Scent of a Woman-like Oscar-worthy performance. The Italian government exposed him as a Fugazi, stripped his welfare and social security benefits, then ordered a tax audit that produced a €200,000 bill for illicit proceeds.
Unfortunately for him, justice never fakes blindness.
Heated Streets
We all know — or at least heave heard of — people who try to "game the system." These people, like the optical delusionist above, often move through life chasing short-term gains, failing to see how their actions impact others. And if you still commute to work, you encounter them daily.
A few weeks ago, I had to brave morning rush hour traffic for an early appointment. After four years of working from home, I quickly realized how “out of shape” I was. I wasn't ready for the psychological battle royale that ensued the moment I eased onto the highway.
My morning zen melted away almost instantly as I met a parade of tailgaters, reckless lane-changers, and plain ole rude roadies — including the guy who flipped off an elderly woman. Besides nervously gripping the wheel at 10 and 2 while driving the speed limit, what did Aunt Bee do to deserve that?
Call me crazy, but I fully believe I-84 was paved over a river of Psychomagnotheric Slime that feeds on and fuels negative human emotions. Within minutes, I became that guy — the one who tries to put his front bumper in the back seat of the car ahead of me just to keep you from advancing 14 feet before I do. But it wasn't really my fault.
When we prioritize our convenience at someone else's expense — like the fake blind guy or those rage-inducing road warriors — our actions ripple outward and boomerang back. I was essentially driven to bad behavior.
The next time you feel your anger rise as you rush to do work you don’t love with people you barely tolerate, consider executing a few of these mental maneuvers:
Recognize the Urgency Illusion
Aggressive drivers are perfect examples of what happens when urgency takes over presence. When someone cuts you off, remind yourself, “They’re racing their thoughts, not me.”
Shift from Control to Curiosity
Every rude driver is a teacher in disguise. Instead of thinking “What’s wrong with them?” try “What’s rising in me?” That shift pulls you from judgment to observation — and helps you carry calm into your workday.
Treat Every Red Light Like a Reset Button
Use stoplights as built-in breathing breaks. Drop your shoulders. Loosen your grip on the steering wheel. Take a few slow breaths in and one out before the light changes.
Redefine Arrival
Mindfulness doesn't stop when you park. Before you hop out of your ride, pause and ask yourself, "How do I want to feel when I walk into the office today?" That micro-moment turns your car from a stress capsule into a pre-meeting meditation room.
If we aren’t mindful of our mood during the commute, we risk sabotaging the rest of the day. Failing to manage that adrenaline spike can turn us into emotional hit-and-runners — dousing our coworkers and families with leftover road rage.
The real commute isn’t the miles between home and the office — it’s the distance between reaction and awareness.
