That bus driver who waved at me changed my whole attitude

I used to be the person who sat in the back with headphones on and never looked up. Hated every second of my 45 minute commute from Tacoma to Seattle. Last Tuesday this driver named Frank actually remembered I get off at the 38th street stop and he gave me a little wave in the mirror before I even stood up. It hit different because I realized I had been treating the bus like a prison instead of a shared space. He told me later that a simple hello from riders makes his whole shift better. Now I say good morning when I board and I actually notice other people doing the same. The ride feels shorter somehow. Has anyone else had a driver or regular rider completely change how you see your commute?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam_robinson28d ago

Man, I used to be the exact same way. I would put my hood up and just stare at my phone the whole ride, not even glancing at the driver. It felt like a chore I had to get through. Then one morning my bus driver started recognizing me and gave me a tiny nod, and it just clicked that these are real people with their own lives. Now I make it a point to say thanks when I get off, and it really does change the whole vibe. Your brain stops treating it like a box you're trapped in and starts seeing it as a room full of other humans. It's wild how such a small thing can flip your whole day around.

charles67828d ago

I hear you on the "room full of humans" thing, @adam_robinson, but I still gotta push back a little. Most days I'm just tired and want to zone out, not make small talk or force a connection with strangers I'll never see again. A quick nod or a "thanks" is fine, but I don't really buy that it flips your whole day around.

charles91917d ago

Yeah, that nod from a driver hits different. Makes you feel seen without all the effort.