A happy man's philosophy

There are a few stereotypical traits uniting taxi drivers from all around the world- grumpiness, over-talkativeness and clairvoyant abilities, allowing them to see and know the answers to the major world problems. Pity they don’t get a special sit in the parliament, right?

Most of you must have shared my experience- a tired and in a hurry you jumps in a cab and wants to get from A to B in the fastest way possible and... in SILENCE. Well, you should have kept walking. We all know what we’re in for during most of those rides.

There’s always the driver who has hacked the corona virus code through mystical practices, herbs and ointments. There is the one who has developed an elaborate conspiracy theory and it goes well beyond the bat meat. The driver who has figured out life and the key to making a marriage work through transparent (or silent) polygamy. And finally, the one who doesn’t necessarily talk, but puts on the worst radio station with heavy Balkan hits and asks if you mind him having a cigarette in the car, whilst driving.

However, there are moments when even the most cynical ones of us get surprised.

That eve, that was me. I was on my way to meeting a few friends for dinner and had fallen into a philosophical internal rant. I guess the driver- let’s call him Kai, sensed this mood and elegantly opened up the conversation.

He started with asking about how my 2022 started. Well, that was a very out-of-the-box taxi driver question and I was both a little annoyed, since now I had to talk, but also pleasantly surprised due to the topic. So I went with it and replied. It was quite an explosive start of the year, both with personal and professional shifts on my front. Even though back then I didn’t believe my words 100%, I told him I saw those transformations in a positive light and I couldn’t wait to see where the year takes me.

He said he sincerely hopes this was the case, as the world needed a happy me. His comment came from such an honest and raw place. It stunned me and I smiled. He continued on expanding on his point, sharing that personal happiness is vital for our society. A happy person is a good community member, a good friend, colleague, lover. A joy to be around and a positive force. That’s why it is in our interest to contribute to the happiness of those around, as it has a huge ripple effect on all of us.

Simple, yet startling and beautiful. I asked him about his 2022 start. He said that,of course there were some challenges that kept things dynamic, but love, peace and harmony prevailed. He shared he had a wife he really loved and a little boy. Just by speaking about them, I knew there was a story.

I asked him how did he know his wife was the one. He said that the moment they met was the moment he started believing in the inexplicable, the extraordinary, the invisible force. When he first locked his sight on her, his heart just flipped. Something deep inside twisted and turned and he just knew. At that time they were both dating other partners, but eventually, 2 years later, after both separating from their previous halves, they found their way to each other.

He wished me to experience such deep, pure, angelic love from the bottom of his heart. Kai shared that this love taught him a lot about being a better husband, but also a better human. A person who doesn’t share polar judgements on what’s right and what’s wrong. A man who doesn’t separate domestics tasks into male and female. A man who understands that there’s nothing more wonderful than preparing a meal for the woman you love, for giving her a hand with cleaning the house, for replacing her with some of her chores when she has a lot on her plate or simply when he can.

I just loved listening to him, to his words about his love, his wife, their boy, their shared home, duties and quality time. It was so real, deep yet sounded so simple.

His story really stuck with me. The beauty and magnitude of pure love, its force to transform for good and make us better beings.

At this moment I truly wished he’d be happy in the year ahead and beyond. Us and the world need and deserve it.