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By Gail Lynne Goodwin.

My father often forwards inspirational emails to me. This morning he sent one that touched my heart.  As with most internet forwards, there’s no author listed, so I can’t give credit where credit is due. So to the unknown catalyst of inspiration, thank you for sharing your story with us. (And, thanks Dad!)

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The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked… “Just a minute”, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. Istock 000013758264Xsmall

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

“Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing”, I told her… “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.” “Oh, you’re such a good boy”, she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”

“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly…

“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.”

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued in a soft voice… “The doctor says I don’t have very long.” I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

“What route would you like me to take?”, I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the sun was setting, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up as they must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

“How much do I owe you?”, she asked, reaching into her purse.

“Nothing,” I said

“You have to make a living,” she answered.

“There are other passengers”, I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

“You gave an old woman a little moment of joy”, she said. “Thank you.”

I squeezed her hand, and then walked away… Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life…

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. It’s the little things that mean the most.

People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

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Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.

Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.

Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.

Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. This was a beautiful story and brings the point home that you never know how much your little acts of kindness help other people. The cab driver knew, but how often do we do things, ever so small, that either really help people in their lives or don’t. It makes you pause and think about the small ways to be kind. Thanks to you and your Dad!

  2. Hello Gail and readers of this blog,

    The above gorgeous story is from Chapter 7, titled “And where there is sadness, joy” in Kent Nerburn’s pithy but beautifully written book, “Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace: Living the Spirit of the Prayer of St. Francis.” One chapter is devoted to each line of this most beautiful prayer about being of service and expressing love. Anyone regardless of their beliefs would be able to appreciate and benefit from the heartfelt wisdom.

    In my opinion, this book is a must-read, and Kent Nerburn would make a great luminary to interview.

    Many Blessings,
    Alice

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