To the coolest dude ever who was on my bus today, quietly sitting there observing our asshole bus driver be a jerk to me, my wife, and everyone who entered that bus as if we were trespassing on his territory and wasting his time. When you went to get off the bus, you turned and with a big smile and kind voice you asked the bus driver why he was so grumpy. He grunted, and you kindly reminded him of all the people who had said good morning and tried to greet him with kindness, and how he had rejected it all. You told him to have a good day anyways, and left. He may have been all the grumpier, but I was uplifted to hear your words. I also got to take them to heart, because I had just lost $3000 to a stupid car problem, and feeling bummed. Thanks for reminding me that there’s no gain in being a downer. —Happier on the Bus
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2012.