"LOVE AND THE CABBIE"

I was in New York the other day and rode with a friend in a
taxi. When we got out, my friend said to the driver, "Thank you
for the ride. You did a superb job of driving."

The taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said, "Are
you a wise guy or something?"

"No, my dear man, and I'm not putting you on. I admire the way
you keep cool in heavy traffic."

"Yeah," the driver said and drove off.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"I am trying to bring love back to New York," he said. "I
believe it's the only thing that can save the city."

"How can one man save New York?"

"It's not one man. I believe I have made that taxi driver's
day. Suppose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to those
20 fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares in turn
will be kinder to their employees or shopkeepers or waiters or
even their own families. Eventually the goodwill could spread
to at least 1,000 people. Now that isn't bad, is it?"

"But you're depending on that taxi driver to pass your goodwill
to others."

"I'm not depending on it," my friend said. "I'm aware that the
system isn't foolproof so I might deal with ten different people
today. If out of ten I can make three happy, then eventually I
can indirectly influence the attitudes of 3,000 more."

"It sounds good on paper," I admitted, "but I'm not sure it works
in practice."

"Nothing is lost if it doesn't. It didn't take any of my time to
tell that man he was doing a good job. He neither received a
larger tip nor a smaller tip. If it fell on deaf ears, so what?
Tomorrow there will be another taxi driver I can try to make
happy."

"You're some kind of a nut," I said.

"That shows how cynical you have become. I have made a study of
this. The thing that seems to be lacking, besides money of
course, for our postal employees, is that no one tells people who
work for the post office what a good job they're doing."

"But they're not doing a good job."

"They're not doing a good job because they feel no one cares if
they do or not. Why shouldn't someone say a kind work to them?"

We were walking past a structure in the process of being built
and passed five workmen eating their lunch. My friend stopped.
"That's a magnificient job you men have done. It must be
difficult and dangerous work."

The workmen eyed my friend suspiciously.

"When will it be finished?"

"June," a man grunted.

"Ah. That really is impressive. You must all be very proud."

We walked away. I said to him, "I haven't seen anyone like you
since The Man From LaMancha."

"When those men digest my words, they will feel better for it.
Somehow the city will benefit from their happiness."

"But you can't do this all alone!" I protested. "You're just
one man."

"The most important thing is not to get discouraged. Making
people in the city become kind again is not an easy job, but if
I can enlist other people in my campaign..."

"You just winked at a very plain-looking woman," I said.

"Yes, I know," he replied. "And if she's a school-teacher, her
class will be in for a fantastic day."

(ART BUCHWALD)
---***************---
THINKING POINTS:

1. Try to make somebody happy everyday by simple kind remarks
or gestures e.g. "Your dress is fantastic today; you did a
fantastic job; or just a simple smile to a friend."

2. Do not take routine job done for you for granted. Learn to
appreciate it.

3. Learn to give out happiness. Happiness will come back to
you in time.