The Dao of Doug: The Art of Driving a Bus -or- Finding Zen in San Francisco Transit: A Bus Driver's Perspective

"Step Down for open sesame when the green light is on!" My last heavy trip inbound to the Ferry Plaza, and then I'm done for the day. Two moms with strollers and children sounded resigned as I got close to Second Street, a small stop I usually passed up without a request. "Don't worry, we'll be off your bus soon, " one mom said. Uh, oh, there was that 'my' bus warning. Thank God they let me know where they wanted to get off, as very few rang for Second.
Perhaps, they could use 'my' help. I popped the brake and got out the door and lifted the strollers down the front steps. One child stopped at the top step. It was too big a drop. "Here we go!" I picked her up and placed her on the sidewalk. "Thank you, " she said in her little voice, with a big smile. This wasn't a bad day after all. It's been shown a drop of water changes when we focus our attention on it.
So too with how I look at my passengers: And how they view me. What a difference in a day when I put down my will and direct my attention to others' needs. Words are the least effective way of getting attention. Actions do speak louder than words. Amen.