Your Self-esteem May Be Showing

One lesson I am learning from the bus is we may be letting our self-esteem show. I heard a bus rider say one day, “that driver thinks he’s a hot shot.” Much of who we are shows up in our attitude toward others. In psychology it is called projection. We project onto others what is really a reflection of how we feel about ourselves.  As for the statement above, I was thinking possibly this person wants to be the hot shot and he is jealous of someone else being in charge where he isn’t. No one really knows. But many times when frustrated with our own lives, we tend to blame someone else.

We may not truly appreciate the privilege we have to even have a bus system. We may not realize how much it costs to run a public transit service. What does one bus cost to purchase?  What it costs in fuel for one bus to run all day. Then add costs to maintain routes, such as the drivers, mechanics, support people.  It takes a lot of money.  Fed money, city money, fare money just to keep a bus on the streets. The cost over fares is enormous. So, I appreciate that a bus even comes close to where I live. If more used the bus,  it could help cover some expenses. Compared to costs of driving a personal car, it’s quite a deal. With more using public transit all of us could benefit.

Back to “your self-esteem may be showing.”

For a person to have a productive self esteem it takes three things:

1.  A self-esteem boost.

2. Realization of your own gifts and abilities.

3. Someone cheering you on.

Very likely, the bus-rider culture lifestyle doesn't get much of this. No one is boosting or reaffirming their notable qualities; they don’t see or realize they have personal gifts; and few are cheering them on, if any.

What does a person do when this is not present? They complain and blame. They do this out of frustration because they feel they can’t do anything about it. They lack recognition of having any personal power or tapping into their abilities to proactively do something that positively affects their lives and others.

We can do the above three things for the bus rider, and each other in business, family and friends.  By doing this, we can positively affect all aspects of our culture, and not create a contagious infection. In every person-to-person interaction if we reaffirmed a person's value, commended their unique gifts and abilities, and cheered them on, we would see dramatic improvement on all personal relationships … and live more fulfilled and happy lives.
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The bus culture is one key to rebuilding a weakened society. Lift up the weak and it strengthens what can be strong.

“Consider how to encourage and spur each other on to doing good things.”

(Hebrews 10:24)

When you ask, you may be surprised who shows up.

Went to get another 31 day pass.  I asked Michelle if she had any ideas for the bus culture experience.  She left her front window for a minute, and the next thing I knew I was in the director’s office talking about what’s going on in the bus transit system. A little nervous at first… you know in school when you get invited into the principal’s office you think,  "must be in trouble now. Oh, my, what could I have done." Turned out to be an insightful time to where transit is going. Shelia was a very pleasant, informative person to visit.

I left this impromptu meeting with a few ideas I plan to elaborate more on in the future. Here’s a few.

1. “So I thought you thought” came to mind. Many times we humans think we think someone is thinking something and it turns out the other person was not thinking that at all. I thought one day a bus driver was frustrated at something I did. Then I thought, how could I know.  He was probably thinking about something I had no clue about. I could let “So I thought you thought” mess with my mind all day. Maybe even get myself so irritated I call transit and complain about the bus driver for something I assumed he was thinking. When in fact … it was just my imagination running away with me (wasn’t there a song like that).

In a run and gun culture we seem to react to things, and what we think the other person is thinking is more a reflection of our own mindset at that time.

All so true… in all we do.

2. “On Time.”  The bus system seems to be pretty good at being on time in their routes. With all the options they face on a route, and uncontrollable factors of people, road construction, amount of traffic….  It’s amazing how well they do. There has to be a trick to how they do it.  For those who value being on time to plan a day, this is a positive benefit of using the bus.

3. An App to track bus routes. Maybe a thing to come. Need to learn more of what this is. Will probably schedule a visit with the transit director to get the scoop on this.  Once I get it right, will pass it on.

A few ideas for future expansion.

One lesson from bus life here… we really don’t know what someone is thinking, so we need to ask and find out. Clarify what is misunderstood, and seek to understand.

“So I thought you thought”  makes me think of  the Apostle Paul… think on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Using cars a last resort

Recently while in Chicago, I noticed a pattern of how people get around. They walk, run, bike, bus or take the train, and as a last resort use cars.

The city has many hubs of communities, so walking is quite common. To go a little farther the bus is handy, and then to get across town the “L” (elevated train) becomes quite popular. There seems to be a natural flow, with a balance of ways people get to where they want to go.

In the past, I would notice buses and wonder why people would use the bus, when we have cars. In the city, I wonder why have cars when we can use buses. The focus and perspective completely reverse.

It seems to be a cultural mindset in the larger cities... actively using a variety of transportation means... walk, bike, bus. Whereas in the smaller city it takes some promotion.

There is a great organization promoting walking, biking, busing, driving... and the benefits of living in balance.  Check out Let’s Go Smart. They even have an all-green bus promoting their theme.  

www.letsgosmart.org

The bus culture … why use a car, when you have buses.

“They are all permissible, but not all as beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Energizing Life ... a bus driver’s insights

In my Saturday bus trip to the downtown library, I usually like to check the Wall Street Journal Weekend edition and read a few of my favorite editorials. I also look over the best-selling business book section they feature each week. I noticed that the Energy Bus, published several years ago, is still a top-ten bestseller.  I summarized this book in my other blog, where I feature best-selling business books, when it was first published (2007).

The thought crossed my mind .. could we actually use these principles to re- energize a bus system?   The buses whizzing around as they do create an energy across the city...  within their motion and activity. Inside the buses though it seems there is a lack of energy. It does not necessarily feel like a how-to-be-motivated-in-life center.  Many seem to be there to get the most from life with the least from them(based on a conversation I overheard one day).

Won’t get into this now, but we really would serve ourselves well if we could lessen the victimized, entitlement mentality and instill a proactive, we-can-make-a-difference mentality. Now, I agree too, there are times we need some help, and the bus system provides that... as I have been a benefactor of that too. Nonetheless, it is my view we need to always be looking for a better way, wherever we are.

What if we could energize the internal atmosphere of the bus? So it becomes an “energy bus.” There are many ways to do it I presume, and the innovators within communities many times figure these things out for us, or come up with ideas for it.  What if everyone became one of those innovators? (Okay, idealistic, reads well, but not how the real world is, you may say.  Well, couldn’t we nudge the real world a little bit here.)

Could we take the principles in a book like the Energy Bus and apply them to a culture, like the bus culture?.

Well, I am not in charge of the community, but live in it. I keep wondering though … what if we all decided to create an energy bus in all we do, wherever we are.

I just upgraded and re-posted the Energy Bus summary as it continues to be a top ten biz book. Incidentally,  the principles within the Energy Bus are revealed through the insights of a bus driver.

The Energy Bus … a summary:

http://spiritsavvybiz.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-energy-bus-what-keeps-it-going.html

(One note... my distinction in my posts is applying Spiritual principles to the practical.)

He who gives us life, also gives it abundantly (John 10:10).

I May be Bus Co-dependent

I didn’t realize this, but I think I may be bus co-dependent. 

Last summer I was riding the bus almost exclusively. Since then I have used a car from time to time. As I was sitting early one morning on an outside eating place at a local restaurant, I was observing the buses going by... first J10 Cedarbrook, then D4 Central, and then C3 Division the new bus line. As each bus went by a twinge of connection went through me.

Even though I had a car to use as well, at the time, the bus has proved to be a comforting, likeable, and desirable experience in my life, as well as others. 

But then, the car broke again. I  know... I can always count on the bus. 

As I saw those buses go by, something was drawing me to them. I then thought, I may be bus co-dependent. 

You may not relate to this if you haven’t been there, like a co-dependent would. You don’t know what it’s like to value something and want it to be there. Many don’t realize that many depend on the bus as their sole means of getting around.

You don’t know what it’s like to …

You see those who depend on the bus live with a strong emotion within. It is like a love relationship with someone you desperately want in your life.

If you read this and have a car, I challenge you. Park that car as if it doesn’t exist and try the bus.

 

You don’t know what it’s like to …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4De_RieBM

“What good does it bring,

If I ain’t got you.”

To Love Somebody, BeeGees

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” 1 John 3:17

(I understand transit is subsidized with utilities money. So those who need a ride can have one. Way to go city utilities.)

Summer in the City

Don’t cha wonder what is the real life of a bus driver... friendly and courteous as they drive the bus. They watch the clock, stay on schedule, serving the patrons in best interest to all.

But is there a secret life of the bus driver no one really knows about?  How do you keep your sanity with all that goes on in the city?

Take, let’s call him Dave. Play-it by-the-rules bus driver Dave. But then think of it. 

When the lights get low, 

22 at night absorbs the Patton mystique as it  trolleys down to the  terminal... could get the best of him as dusk falls on the city. The alter ego rises up.

On the new bus, he figures how to jerry-rig his iPhone into the PA of the bus and set up his DJ platform … hot town, summer in the city. The handicap seats go up, the D’s alter ego emerges, as he converts the handicap area on the bus to the  transit at-night dance floor. Big D barks out the tunes on the bus as it’s a hot time, hot night, summer in the city on the bus.

Yeah, seems like a regular guy, great loyal transit employee, but when the lights turn low the other side turns up the glow.  Yes, it’s summer, in the city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m648v4s5sFc

(a spoof on transportation options and their cultures)

Wonder what the others do... on full moon night who might know.

Sometimes it’s time to celebrate. ("Let’s celebrate together." Matt. 25:21)

 

New bus... nice feel

Like the new buses.

Seem a lot more homey.