Guy on the 6:45 bus told me he walks to work now and it made me question everything

I was complaining to this older guy about how the bus is always late and crowded. He just said "I got tired of waiting so I started walking 40 minutes each way 2 years ago." I asked if it sucked in the rain and he goes "it does, but my blood pressure went down 20 points and I don't need my asthma inhaler anymore." That hit me hard because I've been sitting here mad about 5 minute delays while he fixed a health problem just by moving. Has anyone else had a random stranger say something that made you rethink your whole routine?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_west3d ago

That phrase about the simple fix being right in front of us - I see it a bit differently. Walking 40 minutes each way in all weather isn't exactly simple, it's a pretty big lifestyle shift that most people can't just drop into their routine. Your mileage may vary, but sometimes those "simple fixes" only work because the person telling the story had the time and ability to make it happen, which isn't everyone's reality.

carr.lee3d ago

That line about his blood pressure dropping 20 points really got me. A few years back I was complaining to my neighbor about my back hurting and he told me he started sleeping on the floor Japanese style and his pain went away. Now every time I get annoyed at something small I try to remember that sometimes the simplest fix is right in front of us.