The Impossible Dream

About the age of fourteen, I remember reading this article in school as a part of the coursework. It's written by Art Buchwald, a Pulitzer Prize winning American columnist. Read on as Buchwald talks about his experience while sharing a ride with a friend in New York City:

I was in New York City the other day and rode with a friend in a taxi. When we got out my friend said to the driver, "Thank you for the ride. You did a superb job of driving."

The taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said, "Are you a wise guy or something?"

"No my dear man, and I'm not putting you on. I admire the way you keep cool in heavy traffic."

"Yeah, sure!" the driver said and drove off.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"I'm trying to put love back in New York City," my friend said. "I believe it's the only thing that can save the city."

"How can one man save New York City?" I asked.

"It's not one man. I believe I have made the taxi driver's day. Suppose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to those 20 fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares in turn will be kinder to their employees or shop-keepers or waiters or even their own families. Eventually the goodwill could spread to at least 1000 people. Now that isn't bad, is it?" he asked.

"But you're depending on the taxi driver to pass your goodwill to others," I responded.

"I'm not depending on it," he said. "I'm aware that the system isn't foolproof so I might deal with 10 different people today. It, out of 10, I can make 3 happy then eventually I can indirectly influence the attitudes of 3000 more."

"It sounds good on paper," I admitted, "but I'm not sure it works in practice."

"Nothing is lost if it doesn't," he stated. "It didn't take any of my time to tell the man he was doing a good job. He neither received a larger tip nor a smaller tip. If it fell on deaf ears, so what? Tomorrow there will be another taxi driver who I can try to make happy."

"You're some kind of a nut," I said.

"That shows how cynical you have become," he exclaimed. "I have made a study of this. The thing that seems to be lacking, besides money of course, for our postal employees is that no one tells people who work for the post office what a good job they're doing."

"But they're not doing a good job," I responded.

"They're not doing a good job," he replied, "because they feel no one cares if they do or not. Why shouldn't someone say a kind word to them?"

We were walking past a structure in the process of being built and passed five workmen eating their lunch. My friend stopped, "That is a magnificent job you men have been doing. When will it be finished?"

"June," a man grunted.

"Ah. That really is impressive. You must be very proud," he stated. We walked away. I said to him, "I haven't seen anyone like you since 'The Man from La Mancha'."

"When those men digest my words, they will feel better for it," he said. "Somehow the city will benefit from their happiness."

"But you can't do this all alone!" I protested. "You're just one man."

"The most important thing is not to get discouraged," he responded. "Making people in this city become kind again is not an easy job, but if I can enlist other people in my campaign..."

"You just winked at a very plain looking woman," I said.

"Yes, I know," he replied. "And if she's a school teacher, her class will be in for a fantastic day!"

This article by Buchwald was originally titled Love and the Cabbie. But I remember it titled ' The Impossible Dream' in my coursework at school, which I feel fits the article quite aptly! Though I stumbled across this years ago, it has been among those precious pieces of text that I have still retained in my conscious mind. It reminds me to practise the simple act of trying to spread a few kind messages to the people whose paths I cross.

A broad smile, a soft gesture, a little helping deed .. all can go a long way in lifting many a heavy hearts that we come across as we traverse the tapestry of our living days! And remember, though 'saving' an entire population may seem like an impossible dream, the most important thing, as Art Buchwald's friend puts it 'is not to get discouraged' :) Just want to add to this by stating, that kindness like charity should begin in our own homes. Practising simple acts of kindness in our families, will enable us to naturally radiate the same feeling to strangers when we step outside our homes.

On a slightly off note, it was during the time I had read this article that I developed the earliest feelings of wanting to visit, explore and experience life in NYC .. which has been a substantial part of my life for the past several years :D