One day when I went out for a chiropractic appointment, I rode a taxi. When I was inside the taxi, the driver was kinda not in a good mood. He was complaining about the price hike of gasoline in the past few days and I was so nervous by the way he talked.
Driver: I hate the government! They are doing nothing for the poor ones especially for the drivers!
Me: (Just listening)
Driver: The government doesn't even really care about us! They're not doing anything to control the price hikes!
Me: (Still listening)
Driver: My mind is so confused! At this point in time, I just want to be a criminal!
When I heard him utter those words, my heartbeat started beating fast because I was slowly becoming nervous and that was when I started talking to him in an attempt to calm him down.
Me: (in a calm voice) What will happen to your family if you became a criminal? What you have now is much better compared to what will happened if you get jailed.
Driver:_ I earn nothing for my family because of the price hikes! Maybe becoming a criminal will help me earn something for my family!_
Me:_ Kuya (Big Bro.) your family will still suffer the consequences if you do such things. (This time I was trying to make him calm down although I am feeling so nervous myself)_
Driver: I don't know what to do anymore! The government really sucks! They are the ones who were very lucky because they can get what they want!
When I was preparing for my fare fee, I was even thinking about giving him a tip, but I don't have that much at the time so I gave him what is displayed on the taxi meter as I reached my destination. So the driver thankfully got me safe to the location I was supposed to go to.
Me:_ Thank you and God bless you._
Driver:_ Thank you, Ma'am! You're my first passenger._
So, finally I was out of that scenario! I literally got very nervous! After that I went to the clinic and rescheduled my appointment, I went to a café to relax and to try to calm myself down.
After 2 weeks, I went out again because my dad asked me to get his belongings and while I was going home, I was able to talk a bit to the taxi driver I rode with.
Me:_ Kuya (Big bro.), how was your earnings for the past few days while the gas had price hikes?_
Driver:_ Not that much, Ma'am but it is much better than having nothing._
Me:_ (I can sense here that the driver is thankful despite of everything that is happening)_
Driver:_ Sometimes I earn a bit, but not like before._
Me:_ Kuya (Big bro.) I was able to spoke with a taxi driver a few weeks ago and it made me wonder if it is true that all the drivers are blaming the poverty of the people to the government. What's your opinion on that?_
Driver:_ Ma'am it really depends on the people's mindset, but really, they can't blame the government for being poor. People should work on their own success and not depend on other people's work. I am not into any political candidates, but people are really used to blaming the person on a higher position because of their struggles._
Me:_ Well, yes! That's true! People have their own choices in which way to go anyway._
Driver:_ Yes, Ma'am! People's success should not depend on other people or I should say, to whoever is on the position._
Me:_ So true Kuya (Big bro,). By the way, i'll be getting off over there Kuya (Big bro.)_
Driver:_ I'll get your stuffs at the back Ma'am._
Me:_ Thank you Kuya (Big bro.) Here's my payment. Keep the change._
Driver:_ Thank you so much Ma'am! God bless you!_
I respect everybody's opinion but it is true that people should not depend their status on other people. We should work for our own success! We should do something for our family! We should not be blaming other people or the government as to why we are poor or stuck in poverty.
"It's always easy to blame others. You can spend your entire life blaming the world, but your successes or failures are entirely your own."_ — Paulo Coelho_
Taxi photo source: https: //commons. wikimedia. org/wiki/File:TAXI.jpg