That chat with the bus driver yesterday kinda shook me up

I was venting to my bus driver yesterday about how my commute has been taking 45 extra minutes since they started construction on 5th street. He just laughed and said 'at least you're moving, I've been doing this route for 12 years and it's only getting worse.' Then he told me that three passengers actually thanked him last week for being on time. That hit different because I usually just sit there in my own head complaining about the delay. Made me realize I've never once told him thanks for getting me to work safely. Has anyone else had a random conversation that totally flipped how you see your daily grind?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona98521d ago

Bet the driver hears a lot of people venting but rarely anyone saying thanks.

river_allen21d ago

Read an article just last week about how bus drivers and other service workers often remember the few kind interactions they have for years. It mentioned one driver who keeps a little notebook of thank you notes people have left on seats or handed to him. @fiona985 you're right that it's probably a tough gig dealing with complaints all day. A simple thank you can really turn someone's whole shift around. Most people are just wrapped up in their own problems and don't think about it.

coleman.gray21d ago

Did a bus driver actually show you a notebook full of thank you notes? That's kind of wild if you think about it. I can barely get through a shift without someone complaining about something. The fact that he keeps a literal log of people being decent says a lot about what he deals with on the regular. Most people probably just grunt at him and move on. Really puts things in perspective when you stop and realize how rare a simple thank you is for people like that.