Yesterday was not an ordinary day, but unfortunately, it was one that has become all too uncomfortably common.

Someone thought it was a good idea to try to blow themselves up in the train station at Times Square. By definition, that is not a good idea at all.

The outcome could have been far worse but still, these periodic episodes of inexplicable behavior shake your center before normal returns.

By the time I stepped onto the LIRR, the incident was under investigation and all over the news. I was intently reading all of my news apps when the gentlemen next to me stood up. He asked if I would watch his backpack while he went to the bathroom in the next car. Of course I said I would, no problem.

But as he walked away, my thoughts turned to the backpack left behind. There was a minute where I thought I could have just made a terrible mistake taking responsibility for it. Isn’t this exactly what we are warned about? I admit to a minute of uneasy thoughts.

And then, the calm took over. Nothing had sent my antennae up before agreeing to a common courtesy. This was just another commuter asking for a little help in his day.

We can let the events in our world change how we view our neighbors, or not. I choose “not” wherever I can.