Tips for turning on a downtown one-way, the wrong way

While slowly driving through the rain after an appointment downtown this morning and day-dreaming of Xoco's Almendrado hot cocoa, I turned a corner, just one-block away from the Rick Bayless genius establishment in full anticipation of sipping one of my favorite, warm beverage treats, only to realize that I was going the wrong way, during rush hour none-the-less! 

What to do. I didn't correct my error quite as smoothly as I would've liked in the moment. But I was chuckling inside at my mistake, thankful that the oncoming cars were at a standstill and for the healthy emotional progress I've made the since years ago when I would've shamed myself to pieces. I can't say the pedestrians that I almost ran over approached the incident with such candor. Eventually though, my adrenaline spiked as I felt the pressure of correcting my mistake and shame from the cab driver next to me and the pedestrians yelling at me. ...A tough situation to deal with for anyone whose Enneagram number is 3. So, to help myself move past my mistake that was so utterly shamed and disgraced by those around me, and to honor my failed intentions of a graceful recovery, I thought upon how to better handle the situation next time. 

Tips for turning on a downtown one-way, the wrong way

1. Make sure on-coming traffic sees you and adjusts.

2. Remain calm.

3. Take note of traffic lights and rights of way.

4. Check for pedestrians by looking both ways. (Very important!) 

5. Sync back-up to above steps.

This is what I will aspire to next time I catch myself in this conundrum, which is hopefully never.

Just a final note:

Dear commuters that I almost hit this morning while day-dreaming of Xoco's Almendrado,

So sorry about disrupting your soggy, headphone-laced journey through the two crosswalks I backed-up through while turning 90 degrees. I truly feel bad. At the same time, please watch out for yourself while walking through a crosswalk and consider showing someone who's mistakenly turned down a one-way the wrong way some grace and space to back-up. Moving forward, I'm dedicating my tips for turning on a downtown one-way the wrong way, in honor of the stress we all bore just a few minutes ago.