Yesterday was quite the ordeal—I was in an auto accident when a young 20-something guy ran a stoplight and plowed right into my car. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but to make matters worse, this guy had the audacity to become belligerent and tried to claim it was my fault.

When the police officer arrived, she quickly took control of the situation. She told the man to calm down, but when he started yelling at her, she didn’t hesitate. Within moments, she had him subdued against his car, cuffed, and sitting on the sidewalk, stewing in his own bad behavior.

Watching it all unfold reminded me of the importance of a good time-out! Sometimes, people—young men in particular—need a very long, strict one to reflect on their actions. I think this guy is about to get exactly that.

For those curious about how to apply this lesson in a more… personal context, you might enjoy reading my thoughts here: The Power of Time-Outs in Discipline.

Here’s to cooler heads and justice being served!