This morning, on my way to my 9am meeting, I hailed a cab. The bad news is, the cab smelled like vomit and it’s somewhat dirty. Surely, not the kind of cab I want to be in early in the morning.
I noticed such “state” the moment I sat down. Then I asked myself: “should I tell the driver I want to get out because his cab does not smell good?” But looking at the driver, I saw that he’s in his early fifty’s, I guess, and he has this gentleness in his face. He displays a friendly countenance that reminded me of my late grandfather.
So, as we travelled the busy street going to the office, I just covered my nose with my hankerchief and hoped that the ride will be short. On the average, I would travel 20 minutes.
But he was such a “slow” driver. Very careful. He never overtakes and he keeps a safe distance from other cars.
Then he talks to me about the weather and he informs me that there will be an upcoming typhoon in Cebu. Even if I was striving for breath, I managed to make a comment on what he said.
Then a thought occured to me: should I be assertive this time and fight for my right to a clean taxi? After all, I’m paying for the ride. Or should I remain silent, suffer in silence and just be kind to an old man? Should I be assertive or kind?
Most of the time, when I am presented with this road block, I always choose to stay silent, even if my heart wants to shout. Always, I make that choice. Today, I am presented with the same dilemma. What did I choose?
I gently gave him 70 pesos when I arrived at the office. The driver did not hear any complaint from me. I even said “thank you” as I always do.
Ladies and gentlemen, I made the choice. I chose to be kind.
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February 5th, 2009 at 11:34 am
you cant always be nice. We are just human and beside, whatever you do people have different views. You can’t please anyone, so just be yourself
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February 11th, 2009 at 1:25 am
you have a great patience to other humans. keep it up…
February 18th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Have a nice day n success
God bless us…
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February 18th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
be nice people…
February 19th, 2009 at 9:28 am
oh that is nice of you. but if it were me,i would probably ask why the cab smelled like that and well, at least my curiosity will be fed. lol hehe well, i guess it isjust me.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
It happens quite often. You have no escape from such situations, unless you want forgo something else!
Krishna
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February 22nd, 2009 at 7:48 am
good morning
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
You were right on being nice with that taxi driver. He may not have lived a well-off life like ours and all he’s asking from us (even without saying it), is for us to understand him, his situation. Had he have a good sum of money to buy a new taxi, he would have done so. But even at his age, he still had to work and make a living when he should have just been laying on his porch and enjoying his retirement. Unfortunately, he must have neither. Although, I may have asserted to the driver (when he’s driving slowly) to driver fast by saying, “Manong, nawi-wee wee na ako, please drive faster! Please manong!”
Hee hee.
August 4th, 2009 at 3:54 am
hi, that’s being kind of you to be nice, but for me, there would be nothing wrong to be assertively nice, too. In that case, I would tell the man, not to embarass him, but for his sake on the next client he would have. I wouldn’t know if he will get another one of the same attitude like you have; what if he will get some rude people and will make fun of him, that will be sad.
June 20th, 2011 at 2:33 am
Great One…
I must say, its worth it! My link! http://bgtyrde.blogturk.org/ ,many Thanks….