Be nice to the cab driver
Wherever you find yourself, always, always, always look for ways to help people. No one will ever condemn you for being nice (and if they do, it says more about them than about you).
Speak kind words – thank you, please, yes ma’am, and yes sir. People appreciate politeness and it often deflates someone’s anger before they wail on you.
Often how you treat people becomes the way you are treated by the person with whom you’re dealing.
Respect the cabbie, anyone else in the cab with you, and anyone else whose waiting alongside you. Respect people.
If you give the cab driver the wrong address, don’t blame the drive
Everyone makes mistakes in life; everyone makes LOTS of mistakes. Learn how to handle them:
- Don’t blame others for what YOU did or didn’t do
- Analyze what went wrong and what you need to do next time
- Handle the error with grace and aplomb – people will observe you how you deal with pressure and messy situations, especially ones that you created
Enjoy the ride and watch the scenery but watch the meter and other details
Take in the big picture of life as you travel. It can be as grand and glorious as you want it to be (if you take a few chances along the way). But also learn to observe the details that can make the experience of life that much more full of color. A field of flowers is beautiful; but each flower is amazing in itself.
Change cabs if your current cab can’t take you all the way
Be willing to adapt to the current situation and you absolutely must be willing to change as life changes. Flow is the best answer to flux. So, FLOW.
You’ll need to fight upstream a few times when injustice requires it. Thump bullies on the nose – they deserve it and it will teach them a lesson, but only do it if the cause is noble.
Other times you’ll need to jump and you’ll get some bruises and even broken bones. Leaping from the safety of your current ride is really scary but sometimes necessary.
Be ready for your destination
Look ahead to see what’s coming. Always be prepared. Know when the end of the current ride is drawing near and gather your stuff you’ve accumulated on that ride so you can leave properly. You can glance back to see where you came from but don’t linger – you need to be already looking for your next ride.
Get out when you arrive and don’t be pushed out the door
Sometimes the cab is ready for you to leave when you aren’t. Be intuitive enough to know that this period is over and you need to leave. Leave graciously – it speaks to your character. You’ll probably never take that same cab again, but word of who you are will travel quickly and affect what taxi you catch next.
And remember, have fun on the ride of your life!
Lead On!