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Why I still Rideshare Drive

Oct 11, 2024

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I get asked why do I drive for Lyft and Uber when I have such a plethora of experience teaching abroad as well as having a college degree, and even with being in the military. I feel strongly, most especially since I have driving now for almost six years that people can tend to look down on drivers. As if this is some lowly position or something. It's maybe in how (some) people ask. They may be asking as they see me as maybe intelligent and well spoken so they think I should have a different line of work? But I think if that is a compliment it's still like maybe inferring that rideshare drivers may just love the being their own boss and having great flexibility so much so why do anything else.


For me it is those things but it's so much more too.


The biggest reason I am still out there driving is the human component. Or rather the human connections that are made while meeting people from all different backgrounds.


In world where we are all so into technology and having our heads stuck in our smartphones it's so nice to talk to be people and people that are in our presence and not online. There's something really amazing about that -- that I love!


Sure, there's the other side of the coin and that's the human is that are knuckleheads and are far from nice. Anyone who works in anything related to the service industry knows what I'm talking about. The entitled folk. The folks that for whatever reason are rude and get upset for having to wear a seatbelt that they act like toddlers. Those humans, well, yeah aren't nice to come across but it doesn't take away from all the great connections I have made through the years.


So many examples I can give of just meeting a stranger and having a wonderful conversation because they were open to having one, really TOO many examples to write about here. Perhaps when I finally write that e-book about my life as a rideshare driver I'll be able to give many examples. But, truly, that's what it is about!

I could be quiet, and they could keep their head down and be quiet and sometimes that happens and that's fine too. But here's the thing, if I do that and they do that we all miss out on the potential of having some meaning awesome conversations!


Like with this lady I gave a ride to the other day. She made my day, or maybe really my week! She was nice and all about conversing. I did some ovarian cancer advocacy with her, and because of that she shared some things with me. She even bought a copy of my HOPE through cancer book. She was awesome and I would have felt the same if you hadn't bought a copy. Truly!


Those encounters are why I like to keep getting out there -- despite the knuckleheads and the way people drive here in Texas. 😜


I will end with sharing that when I was going through cancer treatment -- in 2019 and in 2021 -- and had the strength to get out and drive I would do just that! It helped me with my mental wellbeing as I didn't want to get depressed with cabin fever or thinking too much about the loss of my mom, in 2020. I believe that is why my oncologist never told me to stop driving, during covid. He knew it was good to get out there and talk with people. In a way it was just what the doctor ordered, without it being what the doctor ordered. 😉


I hope whatever you do, that you love it! I also hope that people will be open to conversing with a rideshare driver as you never know what awesome conversations you might have. And YES, I am aware that some drivers don't like to talk and some passengers don't care to do that either. And YES YES I know that some people be cringe out there and of course don't feel obligated to talk to cringy drivers or cringy passengers. Outside of that though, maybe just be open to chatting as you never know if they will make your day or you will make theirs or if both will happen, like it has many many many times already.


A friend said something I liked and I edited it a little: Touching lives while giving rides! I am happy to say I've been told that I have touched someone's life and happier to report there have people that have touched mine too. And that folks, is why I still rideshare. To God be the glory!

🫶🏽


Happy weekend!


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