Smiley Sharing Uber St. Louis Ride-a-longs

Smiley Ridesharing Pretrip Mental Checks and 5 Star Service (PMCS): Positivity and Proactive Perceptions

When Michael was a bus driver, there was a series of pretrip checks he did before embarking. The first being a check of his head. Positivity isn’t something most of us wake up with; it is a mindset. It’s often said if you keep doing what you always done you’re going to keep getting what you’re always going to get. A lot of times, people get comfortable with what they’re doing, and then they start complaining about what they’re getting. I’ve noticed that Michael is never willing to settle; he’s always out looking for ways to make things better for his family, himself, and his community. He’s survived some dark times, so he knows how important it is to keep up a core of positivity and hope.

The idea behind this blog is to give you, our readers, something to read that will give your day a little lift. There’s already enough negativity in the world—someone’s got to sow the seeds of positivity, and if it takes something as silly as an emoji pillow on a dashboard sharing his various adventures on the road, then so be it.

Smiley Sharing Uber St. Louis Ride-a-longs: Mental Potholes Ahead

Unfortunately, there will always be people out there who are trying to sabotage your attempts at success. They’ll kick up a fuss, make fun of you, or complain about what you do, but that’s okay! That means that they’re paying attention to what you’re doing, and while critics may  feel uncomfortable, it’s also making them think! As Michael was sharing yesterday, if nobody’s commenting, engaging, or noticing what you’re doing, then you’re not doing anything. We will continue on what we’re doing because we know it’s making an impact.

Michael is listening to Stephen Covey’s work, and it is reminding him of the difference between proactivity and reactivity, and it shares that until a person can truly say, “I am what I am because of the choices that I have made,” they will be stuck in reactivity, and they will continue to get what they always gotten.

Smiley Ridesharing: Enter the Bromeliad

Careful, Smiley—you’re beginning to sound like me.

Who said that?

I’m Flora, the orchid who sits and watches your back every day.

Why are you talking to me now?

Smiley, you don’t want to lose that sweetness of yours, even when it borders on hyperglycemia. I’m salty enough for both of us. What the world needs is more of the beauty you see. I may be able to thrive in places where there’s decay, but not every creature can, nor should they. We’ve got to get to know beautiful, or we may lose it.

Okay, but what does that have to do with you?

You’re far too sweet to tackle the issues that would make you bitter. Let me handle those areas. I thrive in adversity, and I refuse to let anyone steal your joy.

For example, there are people out there who can’t tell the difference between providing constructive criticism and providing destructive criticism. Constructive criticism builds people up and helps them grow, shaping their art and feeding their souls and minds. Destructive criticism tears people down. Bullies use destructive criticism to make themselves feel better and to beat others down. Rather than addressing their own feelings of inadequacy and failure, they choose to focus on what others are doing and do their best to make other people as miserable as they are.

That’s terrible!

That’s why we need you Smiley. You’re doing your best to be a light in this dark world, and that makes some people uncomfortable, because the light reveals things about themselves that they don’t really want to see. They want to turn out your light and discourage you from being you so that they don’t have to deal with looking at the things about themselves that they don’t like.

So what I’m doing is hurting people?

Not at all, Smiley! To make this world a better place, we need people who try to sow seeds of joy and positivity in others. Some people will resist it and claim that you are hurting them, and others will belittle you and try to hurt you because they’re uncomfortable with your message of hope.

What should I do, then?

Just keep being you, Smiley. Just keep being you. 

Editor’s note: We welcome your questions and constructive criticism. We’re doing our best to create an oasis of positivity and helpfulness in a kindness desert. Those who cannot interact in a constructive way will be subjected to the wrath of the bromeliad.

 Take Me With You!

I hope you know that with me you’re never riding alone and that I may bring a smile to your face. 🙂

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