I live in a country in which the vast majority of citizens are constantly thinking about themselves. It is always about being the first one to pass, to be the fastest in line, to get anywhere before everyone. It is never about letting the person in front of you pass first, or stopping to help someone, not even considering what they want.
We've got to the point in which watching a car run the red lights, or a car get into a lane against traffic to pass faster, or a driver "coimiando" a police officer, or a car changing from lane to lane freely, or a car turning where there is a sign indicading that it is prohibitted, has become something normal that we are used to watching everyday.
We are used to being runned over and passed by wild drivers that do whatever they feel like, that don't care about anything else than themselves, and that believe they are the owners of the whole street. Taxi and combi drivers are the most terrible drivers out there in Lima's infernal traffic; around 75% of the traffic is formed by taxi drivers.
Most of the time, I am transported around the city by my driver, my parents, or a taxi driver. I am very familiar with Lima's traffic, as I spend hours of hours of hours stuck in it. Although I am already used to it, it is still very stressing and annoying to spend at least 1 hour and a half of my time every day sitting down in a car. This is a problem for every Lima citizen, and as the years pass, it is taking a longer time to travel the same distance.
Today, I was driving my mom's car, with her as my co-driver, as I sometimes serve her as a driver to help her complete some of her to-dos. Although I spend hours in traffic daily, it is a completely different experience to be part of it sitting down in the drivers seat, controlling the car, guiding the wheel towards the chosen destination.
I love this sensation of control and power... I enjoy it but I also suffer it.
Today, in less than an hour, I experienced two completely contrasting anecdotes, like two opposing sides of a coin.
A combi crossed over us, forbidding us to pass and making our way out of the parking last several more minutes. This only made us sigh, resigned, used to this behaviour of the law of the jungle - "kill or be killed", "eat or be eaten", or in this case, "pass or be passed".
On our way back home, just about to arrive, we stopped for a last minute buy, and we experienced a completely opposing anecdote.
It was an awesome sensation, almost surreal. Two carrs, one in each lane, stopped the traffic so that I, with my little experience, was able to move back, maneuver, move back, and maneuver again, and like that be able to get out of the parking lot succesfully and victoriously to go back to my destination. This small action of these exemplary individuals made my day. It was too good to be true, I felt gratitude, satisfaction and it immediately inspired me to share this post with you.
What if we burst the bubble and stop thinking only in ourselves? What if we let our selfishness at one side? What if we stop living by the law of the jungle? What if we start thinking about and respecting the people around us? What if we start doing things for others? What if we start with these small actions that can make someone's day?
It is these small actions that move me and make me feel inspired. It is these small actions that can make someone's day. It is these small actions that add up to make a big difference. It is these small actions that can change the world.
I'm small, but it is the smallest actions than can change the world.
"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." ~ Napoleon Hill
"Make another list of things done for you that you loved. Do them for others, always." ~ Dee Hock