A kind word... A long way!

Thought I will share something that I read a few months ago.

As I recall, there’s this guy who’s taking a taxi ride with his wife. And oh… There is also the taxi driver. I imagine a cold gloomy morning in a city somewhere in the West. So, as husbands and wife usually do, after about ten year into marriage; there was hardly any conversation that morning.
The taxi stops at their destination. The guy – or shall we say ‘man’ rather - gets off and takes out his pay.
Man: (while paying him says…) There you go. You are a good driver. Keep up the good work! Good day!
Taxi driver: why say that?
Man: You were patient at the traffic lights and careful at the turns. Conscious about the pedestrians and thrifty about time. You certainly deserve some appreciation for that young man
Taxi driver: (Grins in surprise) Thank You Sir!
Wife: Why did you have to do that?
Man: do what?
Wife: praise him so much?
Man: To him, that would have meant much more than the pay. I’ve made his day and he’s going to be nice to the next passenger. And may be that passenger would in turn brighten up someone else’s days. Also he’s going to keep up the good driving.

Do you see how long a few kind words could go? We always complain if there’s a mistake or something’s wrong but we never spare a few minutes or a few kind words of appreciation to someone who’s been good or working hard at their job. I think we should change our culture a little bit and be nice to people around us. There’s so much that one person can do alone. It is also important to understand that polite words and admiration must also be practised at homes with our families and loved ones as much as on the streets and at our work places.