When I arrive at the dumpster near my building, I now say “huh” aloud. This word is my new experiment for practicing non-reaction. Whenever I get frustrated or stressed or angry, I force myself to pause and say ‘huh,’ which is just an interjection: a reaction word. It buys me a few more seconds of processing time, enabling me (sometimes) to stay calm.

So now when I get to the dumpster and inevitably find recycling in the trash or boxes haphazardly strewn across the enclosure, I get to decide how I want to react. Uttering a nonchalant “huh” grants me the opportunity to choose. Do I want to get angry and allow my neighbors’ carelessness to negatively affect my mood for the next 30 minutes? Or do I want to let it go?

The same can be used when navigating traffic, deescalating with my partner, or processing directives at work. Our reactions are solely ours. We always get to choose. “Huh” reminds me treasure this most important fact of life.