I personally love love taxi driver. I love to listen to people’s story. Story of their lives. Unfortunately I don’t take taxi here in Los Angeles. But whenever I am traveling, I always pay attention to taxi driver, and always ask their story.

One in particular, will never leave my memory because he was really inspiring. It was when I was in Jakarta a few years ago, and this taxi driver was telling me about his life story. He told me that he has 5 kids, and the youngest one was 5 years old, and the oldest one in high school. His family live in a village outside of Jakarta. So he told me that he is working hard, sometimes 7 days a week, in the city, driving a cab so he could provide for his family. And he has a goal that year, he wants to start a little duck farm. His goal is to have 1000 ducks so that his wife could start selling the eggs in the market, and he could work less in the city and spend more time with his family. At the time, he only have 100 ducks. Each duck only cost 50 cent in US dollar, but mind you that income per capita and standard of living in US is low. So he told me that he works extra shift, sometimes he just sleep a few hours in the car in a harsh city to be a cab driver, so that he could pave a better way of living for his family. I was so touched. The usual tipping amount is probably 50 cent, but I gave him $10.00, and I told him that I am buying him 20 ducks. It was the best $10.00 spent ever!!!! He was sooooo happy, and I was so happy to hear his story.

Stop and listen to people. You never know who will touch and inspire you. Just like the cab driver I met in Jakarta, I was touched to see his hard work and love for his family, and focus for a better way of living.

Love and gratitude,

Erlina

Thanks
Emma