In this increasingly stressful environment, everyone is trying to think of ways to de-stress and lessen their worries and cares. It is tough when there is so much negativity enveloping the news and every day activities. If you are brave enough to don a mask and go out in to public you are face to face with the rest of the public who are emoting signs of fear, angst, worry and distrust of their fellow human race. This is something that was little issue before and yet it has taken over society causing undue reactions in people that would never react this way before. In many cases it has produced uncaring and selfish attitudes in people that would normally give the shirt off their back for someone in need.  Its hard to just take a step back for self-assessment and be honest. 

Everyone is working hard to survive and keep food on the table in our crippled economy. It is devastating to many out there.  If you are lucky enough to have a nest egg to rely on and not be dependent on a paycheck, you may not understand the emotional strain that many others are feeling right now.  Staying positive during this time is a feat in itself and hurtful comments, anger and selfish acts can instantly ruin what might have been someone’s otherwise “good” day. For example; in our business we have drivers that have hearts of gold. They live each day to come out and be the very best example of customer service and they are trying even harder during this stressful time.  Many of them haven’t received a decent paycheck in months due to this pandemic but they maintain an upbeat attitude even when the customer may not.  When we call on them to go miles out of the way to pick someone up, they don’t complain about the distance even though they are burning their own gas.  What many people don’t realize when they hail a cab, is that these drivers pay for their own fuel. If we send them 12 miles to pick someone up because that person called for a taxi, they will burn that fuel to get them.  When they arrive and see 2 other taxi companies pull up, 2 other drivers just wasted fuel for nothing due to inconsideration.  When they pick up a patron that has no intention of paying and knowingly takes the ride knowing they can’t pay for it when they are dropped off, the driver is left losing money not only for the fare but for all the fuel they just wasted due to the dishonest act of that patron.  Please keep in mind, that during these hard times there are many people living for what little they make in a week.  If you have been one of those patrons that stiffs a driver or calls multiple companies for a ride, remember, you are taking food off of their table. 

If everyone’s goal was to perform one kind act for someone else in a day, can you imagine what our world would be like?  Just one kind act can mean saying hello to a complete stranger, paying it forward at a toll booth or drive through, giving an extra 5% on a tip, etc.  There are so many ways to show kindness instead of anger. The world would be so much better if everyone just thought for one moment about the needs of others rather than their own.