I had a beautiful lunch planned with friends. Was really looking forward to some fun times when a sudden work meeting cropped up. It crushed me to cancel our lunch outing aware that we may find it difficult to meet for the next two months, each with our own crazy schedules and kids’ holidays. So well, I called for a cab. On that day, no surges on Uber. Ah, what a relief!
I got a cab quickly and waited for it to arrive. You know your reaction when you are expecting a Tata Indica and in comes a Ford EcoSport, yes that luscious compact SUV. Aha! I thought to myself. My younger son, who is a car freak, came running down to get a better look at the car. He is like that, crazy about cars. So off I go in the cab.
Oh well, more surprise was in store for me when the driver promptly jacked up the a/c as it was way hotter in the back seat. I gave him a grateful look. The man was very considerate, very unlike the rash drivers that I normally encounter. He drove carefully, driving within speed limits and not going quickly over the speed breakers. And he was fluent in Hindi, English and Kannada, was very polite in all his conversation. Despite the huge traffic jam at BTM and Silk Board, the ride was such a pleasant experience, definitely one of the best cabbies I encountered. The car was very comfortable too. All for a princely fare of Rs. 220.
So yes, I did go for the meeting with a smile on my face. And guess what, the meeting went great too wiping out all the distress of how the day had started.
You can never say how the small surprises, the nice people you meet in transit or just someone being nice to you can so transform the day that you are having. It’s these beautiful fleeting memories that make some days bright and sunny. So the next time you smile at someone or hold the door open for them or indulge in small conversation, you may not know how that can radically transform the bad day that someone else was just having. Worth doing! Worth a thought! Right!
I link this post to Vidya’s gratitude circle. Go check it out for some heartwarming posts.
So well put Rachna. We all experience good times every day. But most of them are ignored. It takes a person with a kind heart to acknowledge and thank life for such moments.
Thank you, Vishal. I guess focusing on the bright spots during the day help you get through the patchy ones. So practicing gratitude I have personally felt is very rewarding.
Sometimes, things just sort of work out for the better. It’s a shame about the lunch though.
Here’s hoping you get to do it again some point.
And yes, here’s to all of us being responsible for bringing some sunshine into someone else’s life/
That was a shame. Hopefully, we will do it soon some other time. Always good to remind ourselves to do that good deed.
It’s really the smallest of things that brighten up your day, specially kindness from strangers – your cab driver for instance. Glad you had a happy day. And thank you for this reminder of doing my bit, however tiny, to make someone else happy.
Thanks, Tulika. I guess we are pleasantly surprised when things go against our expectations.
Mostly the days I dread turns out just fine and vice-versa! SIgh taht’s life
Yes, natural checks and balances.
I think zaroor you didn’t really want to meet those ladies for lunch. Aapki prayers worked and the sudden work meeting came up. Bahana achcha hai. 😛
Hehe Haan sahi pakda. That you found time from Mexico to read this post makes me feel grateful. :-p
A good cabbie is like a gift .. I understand exactly what you are saying and what you must be feeling..and you are right just a smile can transform someone’s day..worth a try..
Thanks, Naba. Hope you are having a good vacation.
Small acts go in a long way to create a harmonious environment. Since we always crib about public transport, I liked it that you appreciate them as well whenever due. I am completely impressed with the cab drivers in Bangalore whenever I am there. Very polite guys. Though I can’t same about the auto guys.
Oh yes, the auto guys are quite bad. I prefer talking a cab anyway to taking an auto.
The little things in life are actually the big things, isn’t it. Beautifully expressed. Thanks for the lovely reminder, Rachna!
Thanks for reading, Kamini.
I love your post, Rachna. I’ve practically been living in ubers the past two weeks – and just love them – great service, wonderful drivers and of course, super fares. Funny thing- today I was supposed to go meet a friend who lives an hour and a half away from my place – I landed at her place only to realize that we’d meant to meet next Thursday – and so she was out – so I took a cab right back home. I was laughing, because suddenly I thought – hey, I slept pretty late last night, and was up early – and probably needed the nice a/c-ed ride up and down!
Hugs, and thank you so much for joining me in celebrating gratitude. Always the little thing, eh?
Hehe Now that is a fabulous way of looking at a goof up, Vidya. 🙂 A pleasure to join you on the gratitude drive. It helps you feel warm and grateful to relive the experience.
Sometimes it is worth just going with the flow instead of fighting it and being grumpy and yes, someone up there hears the cheerfulness in our voice and face and rewards us for being such sports!
That is a lovely way of looking at things. 🙂
Lovely post and I have heard Uber drivers are very well mannered. Small things make a big change. Isn’t it? Loved your positive post.
Not all, Parul. In fact, most of them are actually very ill-mannered and actually drive very rashly. It is actually when l find a considerate driver.
Yes, a nice conversation, a considerate person does bring so much happiness back. And suddenly things start looking so much brighter again 🙂
True. A good experience in a cab is actually not so normal.
Yeah, things don’t always work out the way we planned, and this just reminded me of all those huge exciting plans I’ve had to discard in the past. But of course, we only need to just live through the day with what little pleasures we can get! Glad you had a nice day :).
Thanks, Dashy. Believe me we planned a lot for this lunch outing but it got cancelled last minute.
what a sweet post, its the small things that matters the most, glad to read your post 🙂
Thanks, Angela.
There is so much bad press about cab drivers that makes one think twice about boarding cabs. I have had a few bad experiences myself when I was new in Bangalore. Thanks for this positive post about your experience with a cab ride, shows me another picture. This one also reminds that gratitude can be found in the simpler aspects of life.
Thanks, Anamika. Mostly my experiences with these drivers are of rash driving, talking loudly over phone and being weird. That is why this guy was such a change.
While I’m not big on the use of the word gratitude, I do think we don’t focus much on what goes well in our lives — the small things. It’s about paying attention to these small things that go well and slowly we can rewire our brain to focus on the good a lot more.
You said it. I guess when one feels gratitude, it automatically makes you feel warmer and happier. Essentially it is about paying attention to the tiny things that go well with us instead of only getting bogged down with what is rough. I guess somewhere in the longer term it helps us focus more on the positive.
Yes, sometimes such small pleasant experiences can really make all the difference to how one feels about one’s day. Looks like things did go rather smoothly for you that day, from the moment the cab arrived to the conclusion of the meeting. Hope you get another lunch-with-friends opportunity soon!
Hope so too. The day did get better with him entering it.
You are absolutely right… I sort of try to apply “everything happens for good” in life
That’s wonderful, Jaish. I guess we all lose sight of it when we are having a rough day.
Yeah – nice to appreciate these small things in life. Good to be back on your blog after quite a while. Been totally cut off from blogging circuit for some time – now making my way back. Hopefully nasty things at office don’t cut me out again.
There is so much goodness around us to be grateful for as you rightly expressed in this lovely post, Rachna!
You’re right, Rachna, small surprises bring huge happiness in life. Gratitude post ke saath ek pic to banta tha Driver ka.
So true..
Also, everytime I travel by auto or a cab, I make it a point to thank them when I am getting down, from the vehicle. Some of them are surprised and give a smile. And some of them say welcome madam. But, I believe, it probably makes them feel good. And that definelty helps…
Absolutely! Kindness, consideration are underrated virtues. Small gestures like smiling at the security guard, offering water to the delivery boy take little of our time but mean so much to others.
What a lovely initiative by Vidya! It is great to celebrate life’s small pleasurable moments!
How a comfortable cab and a sincere driver made your journey easy, and good response in the meeting made your day lovely. It was wonderful, these moments of happiness are to be cherished. These are small but memorable moments to express gratitude.
Oh yes! I experienced something similar. I was having a rotten day; too many ( minor) things going wrong, and a bright smile by a billing clerk, was what changed the downward spiral of that day. It’s the small things!
happie to read this post, very minute things mean a lot, and this can be accepted by everyone, what you say Rachna garu…?
True that.
Very well-said! I think it takes mindfulness to be aware of life’s little surprises. Most often, we’re moaning over a disappointment so we miss these little pleasures. But, they are always there. We just need a change of perspective to be able to see them. Also, mindfully assisting others, no matter how small, brings out the humanity in all of us. I always feel happy when I contribute positively to another person, no matter how small.