A chat with my bus driver changed how I see the morning rush

I was stuck in my usual spot on the 7:15 express yesterday, grumbling about the delay. The driver, Frank, saw my face and said, 'You know, I've been doing this route for 12 years. I see the same people, same seats, same sighs.' He told me he keeps a list of the regulars who say good morning, and it makes his whole shift. It hit different because I realized I'm just another grumpy face to him, not a person. Has anyone else had a small talk moment that flipped your view of the daily grind?

4 comments

4 Comments

burns.richard1mo ago

Wow, he keeps an actual list? That's incredible. It really shows how a tiny bit of kindness from strangers can make a huge difference in someone's day. Frank sounds like a good man.

gavinw531mo ago

Reminds me of this older guy who used to come into the coffee shop I went to. He'd just sit and smile at people, never said much. Found out later he'd been doing it for years after his wife died, said it made him feel less alone. That quiet sort of kindness sticks with you.

bettyperry1mo ago

Yeah, keeping a list like Frank did really helped me too, @burns.richard.

blake_cooper1mo ago

My neighbor keeps a notebook of good things people do. He showed me a page where someone returned his lost wallet with everything still in it.