All Entries / William Learned Valuable Life Lessons While Taking Public Transit
A true story of my personal experiences while riding LeeTran:
LeeTran is not only a mode of transportation, but it is an instrument which changed my life for the better.
Before it became necessary for me to ride LeeTran, I was like most people and judged others rather hard. I judged them on their appearance and their current position in life. I judged them on their clothes, car, job, home, hair and even teeth. I was ignorant and superficial. Also, quite a jerk and shallow. I never looked inward where the true worth of a person lies, but all that has changed due to my time riding LeeTran.
Day after day, many lives crossed my path for a reason.
Some days I cried.
Days I laughed.
Days I helped.
Days I hurt.
Other days I only sat and thought, but every day a lesson was learned and a blessing cast my way.
Following are a number of stories of people that have changed my life while riding LeeTran. The rich diversity of people has softened my heart and has better helped me to understand my fellow brothers and sisters on this earth. Let’s begin the journey!
First, a young and beautiful Mexican girl enters the bus. She has a baby on her back and on her right hand another. In her left hand are bags of food and she is trying to drag a baby stroller at the same time. Everyday it is the same. The same bus stop. The same time, but always a smile while carrying such a great load.
Every time I get depressed or tired I think of her and I have but one choice. I keep going on like her.
Next, they were a young teen couple, maybe 18 or 19. They had just come from grocery shopping and they must have 20 or more bags of groceries. This was the last bus of the night and they were out-of-breath from running to catch the bus. As they boarded the bus and began to search their pockets for bus fare, looks of pain filled their faces. The smallest bill of money they had was a twenty dollar bill and the bus driver was not helping them and would not let them ride the bus. Remember, this was the last bus of the night. Without saying a word I walked up and paid their fares. The young couple turned towards me and the young girl’s eyes filled with tears and began to run down her face. She ran to me and gave me a big tear soaked kiss on the cheek. Her boyfriend who looked like he belonged to a gang came over and gave me a big hug. All they could say was, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” As she cried in happiness and as he held her.
This has taught me that the smallest acts of human kindness can and do mean the world to others.
Another story, the blind man. Every Saturday you see him at or walking up atoa the bus stop with his red tipped cane. He walks from home to the bus stop. He then enters the bus and rides to his destination. He then departs while tapping his red-tipped cane as he moves down the sidewalk. Tall and with a straight back he moves while crossing traffic which would make most people shutter.
I have gotten lost in the mall, but not this man. Though the world is dark to him, a light of courage shines from within him. Whenever I fear something or the unknown, I think of this brave man and he is my motivation.
Lastly, let’s call her Grandma. Lonely and alone is written all over he aged face. Her pace is that of a snail. It seems to take an eternity for her to enter the bus and find her seat. Bus drivers moan as they wait to go as she slowly finds a seat of her liking. They all raise their voices and tell her to sit down so they can leave. She always smiles and then sits as the bus drivers mumble and then begin to move on. She told one rude bus driver: “Son, at my age I am in no hurry to go nowhere!”
From Grandma I have learned that maybe we should slow down once in a while. Most things we hurry for really are not that important.
My heart and mind will never be the same after the precious people I have been blessed to meet due to “Lee Tran”.
My soul has been touched by the diamonds of people I have met. No university could begin to teach me the lesson I have learned on the bus. I have learned things that most people will never learn their entire lives.
Thank you, Lee Tran. I will never lose or forget the lessons and blessings I have been given while riding your bus.
Most importantly, please explain to all your drivers the great responsibility which is theirs. They move those which can not move themselves. Your drivers are “People movers” and “People savers”. Your drivers have a job far more important than they will ever understand.
