A couple of friends and I had asked if a taxi parked near a lane in Mumbai would take us to a location about 10 mins away the other day. The taxi driver said yes. As we walked around to the taxi, we realized that he had just refused an elderly couple for no apparent reason. We weren’t sure if this was because of us and immediately asked the elderly couple to go ahead.
They nodded at us, smiled and said – “Don’t worry. This happens. Go ahead” A passing taxi stopped just then and they got in. Once we got in, my friend commented “How obnoxious of this guy.” I nodded but didn’t say or do anything.
I thought about that moment a couple of times. I don’t know where my head was at when that happened. I don’t know if it was just that I wasn’t thinking or whether I had just shrugged and accepted the taxi driver’s obnoxious behavior. What I feel I should have done is taken a stand and walked away from that taxi.
I believe it is moments like this that really test our character and what we believe in. And, in this instance, I failed that test. I didn’t take the stand and it’s bugged me since. I will do my best not to let that happen again. There are no small decisions when it comes to our values – I’ve realized that much.
A Learning a Day 