This morning (21/11/2012) I took a tricycle (keke-napep) from my house to the bus stop. It was empty, making me the first passenger. At each bus stop the driver would slow down and call out the name of his destination as a way of calling passengers to board his vehicle. No one seemed to going in his direction. He kept on calling relentlessly and paused a little longer at some bus stops. Two people stopped him at different bus stops but were not going his direction. He got to a junction, the major bus stop before the last bus stop and called out, but still no one.
In disappointment he gasped aloud, "ah!" I felt sorry for him because he didn't make up to half the money he would have made if he had a full vehicle. When we got our final destination, I gave him a N100. As he was searching for my change, he bumped his head to his music happily and sang along.
Here was I feeling sorry for him when he had gotten over it. I am sure it was not his first time driving one passenger instead of four. I almost wanted to tell him sorry (taking the proverbial panadol for a proverbial headache which had already gone).
Here was I feeling sorry for him when he had gotten over it. I am sure it was not his first time driving one passenger instead of four. I almost wanted to tell him sorry (taking the proverbial panadol for a proverbial headache which had already gone).
I loved this man's attitude. He wasn't using a hammer to kill a mosquito. It wasn't his fault that there were no passengers going his direction at that time. He came out and did his job even though he carried just me. Well, he didn't just carry a passenger like he would be thinking but he inspired one.
When things don't turn out the way you expect, how do you react? Do you beat yourself up? Do you feel sorry for yourself and let it weigh you down? Do you complain over what has already happened and cannot be changed? Or do you act like the driver and let the past be the past? Do you have the attitude of 'it has happened, OK how do I move on?' Do you dust yourself up and get up after you fall?
Lessons to take away: Learn to deal with disappointments without being discouraged. Don't waste time and energy fighting what you cannot change. If your plans don't turn out the way you expect, restrategize and move on.
This post is dedicated to the keke napep driver that picked me up this morning. I was meant to post it earlier but I had a very busy day...
Thankyou for this post..it is indeed so apt and inspiring. It is all about attitude.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Our attitude towards life counts a lot and most times determines what we get from life. Like Kyle xy said 'Mind over Matter'. Never let your environment control your inner man.
DeleteI let it go.
ReplyDeleteThat's good, letting it go for good. Learn what you can if any, forget the pain and move on. Added you to my circle on google +.
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DeleteI always try to have a "Plan B" in my various aspirations ...Sometimes, it 's easy to get over disappointments when there is alternative... Could you hv arranged for a working colleague on the same route to give you lift to work ?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion BizBug but I don't think you got the point of the story. I had no issues with transportation. The driver didn't make all the money he could have made and he didn't complain about it. That was the foundation of this post. Hope you get it now? You can read the post again. Thanks for the comment anyway.
DeleteWell, you are right!
ReplyDeleteThank u Anonymous! Thumbs up!
DeleteThat is an inspiring attitude from you to the Napep driver. Good blog..
ReplyDeleteThank u Busta but it is from the Napep driver...to all of us.
DeleteAttitude matters a whole lot.One very obvious distinction between winners and losers is attitude.Nice blog!
ReplyDeleteHi great Naija guy, great blogs you have too! Attitude sure matters a whole lot and determines a lot too! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I joined your blog, I would not mind u doing the same. Takia...and love to see more of your comments.
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