My Uber Driver Is An Amazing Grandma
Earlier this year, I attended a conference in Sacramento. I landed after an eight hour commute from Florida stopping in Dallas along the way. I was exhausted. It was five o’clock pacific time which is eight o’clock eastern time and I had a dinner meeting at seven. Growing up in Miami, dinner time was usually anywhere from seven to ten o’clock. Living in Fleming Island, dinner is usually no later than six.
The weather seemed to get worse as I waited for my Uber driver. After getting rained on and the gusts blowing me into my Uber driver’s car, I closed the door and sunk into my seat. I said hello, confirmed I was Carlos and acknowledged my destination followed by where you are from. All Uber ride conversations have the same beginning script. The following scene is where the magic of humanity happened.
I told my driver I was from Florida. Her response was immediate and to the point. She said “Florida is horrible, I left Florida and feel that state is a ticking time bomb and I am in fear for my life when I visit my grandchildren there.” I was not expecting this from my sweet Grandma Uber driver. I asked why she felt that way? She replied ”There are too many guns, shootings and crazy people with no regard for the law and all guns should be taken away.” Being a strong supporter of the second amendment I immediately replied “My parents are from Cuba. Castro had all the guns and look how that turned out!” There was silence. I was tired, hungry and cranky. My wife refers to this as “hangry.”
She made the next move by asking me more about life under a dictatorship. I told her my parent’s story and the story of countless exiles. I then asked about possible causes of violence in her community and if there were any solutions we could both come up with. She convinced me of some and I disagreed with others. She went through the same communication and thought process with me. Our tone and demeanor became relaxed and we learned to laugh together.
We are all married to each other and have to get back to talking to each other not just at each other. Respecting each other's views while disagreeing eludes us today.
Here is your Call to Influence: When facing a situation like this try to do the following:
Breathe!
Ask for more information and listen for clarification.
Come up with joint possible solutions.
Respect when you disagree.
Laugh a ton when you agree.
This week, have a conversation with a perfect stranger. Ask questions about them and share things that have shaped your life. Smile when you disagree and ask them “Why they feel that way?” You never know. You may both become great friends who will influence each other to benefit Humanity.
My Uber Grandma is amazing. Her love of family and our nation is one of the reasons why she is an Uber driver. She loves to talk and listen to others smiling while she disagrees and laughing at common ground. Her grandchildren are blessed to have her.