Hazel Okoth

Have you ever been asked what is your favourite thing to do in this world?? Well, I have. And my answer is always the same; wait for it...travelling in a bus. Sounds boring, right??

Every morning, I take a bus to work and every evening I take a bus back home. I use the same route, the same bus and sometimes I seat at the exact same spot. I know exactly where traffic begins and a few meters later, the beginning of an overlapping spree. It might sound boring and cliche but the beauty is that it isn't. In each and everyday ride, I am surrounded by different people from all walks of life and this makes my experience different and unique. During the ride, the bus might hit a pothole, scratch the side rail or even ram into another vehicle; but evenutually, I do get home.

This is exactly what life is. Each and every one of us on a path...a path to achieving their dreams! This path is filled with potholes and bumps and traffic that might go on forever. You will feel stuck and helpless. Cursing and hooting won't do you any good. I usually wonder what drivers expect achieve when they hoot but I am certain these expectations are rarely met.

What am saying is, forget about the traffic, forget about the pothole and forget about the bumps. They will always be there. Focus on what makes your experience unique. The people around you. Don't just get into the bus, find your spot, put on your head phones and completely ignore your surroundings. Take a look around. Imagine what the people around you are like. Say Hello...start a conversation. You might be speaking to a future President, CEO or even your future spouse. Connect with people and what better way to do it than in a bus. It is the most level playing field there is for meeting people; people that may change your life.

The people around us are what make our experiences worthwhile. They are what determine how had we feel the bumps and how had we rocked the pothole. Life gives us traffic so that we can slow down and assililate ourselves and our surroundings.

I challenge you today to take a bus ride and feel free to share your experience. I can guarantee you it will be worth your while!! Now excuse me as I pen out, I need to alight the bus...