Holding up the bus

Who’s riding with you?

How often, and to what degree do our actions and inactions affect the people seated in the ‘bus’ of our lives, especially those we are in direct relationship with?

What got me thinking of this is an experience I had where one man, through his own choices got a bus full of people delayed by ten minutes without them being able to do anything about it.

Essentially, the bus spent a little too long at a stop because a passenger insisted on being given change for his fare which the driver said he did not have. There was thus a stand-off. The whole exchange between this passenger, the driver, and other agitated passengers on the way to work and school took about ten precious minutes which makes a difference when you are on a planned commute.

Life often imitates my observation of three groups of people on the bus:

1. There were those who sat quietly taking it all in. Some people in our lives may be the quiet or passive observers. They may not be moved by our choices until they are very directly affected by them. They will play their part – just not until they must.
2. The second group of people were those who got off the bus to join another. They left to ensure their own convenience and timeliness. Not everyone has the patience to hang in there while we’re making self-discovering decisions that affect or hold them back. On the one hand, the person making selfish choices that affect others should not expect everyone to just put up with it. On the other hand, a person making genuine mistakes on their way through life must prepare to shed some company along the way till they hopefully figure out their own way forward.
3. The third group of people were those who got involved. Some people will be in your face to tell you when your choices are plain wrong and how they’re affecting them and others. These people have your best interest at heart and will often be there for the long haul to help your ‘bus’ to its journey’s end. Even when it means they are also inconvenienced.

What type of ‘passenger’ do you tend to be and who would you most prefer ‘riding on your bus’?