[An open-hearted share at this Wednesday's Awakin Circle.]

Hello, my name is Manny, and this is my first time here. I have meditated in silence at various places, but the energy here is different. Thank you.

When I heard this week's passage on wonder, my mind went to something I often wonder about -- what would it be like to be in someone else's shoes? I want to share a story about it, that planted that question deep within myself.

Before I started meditating, I was pretty much a zero compassion guy. I had anger, frustration, zero patience with people. I mean I would just get angry without notice. I remember, we were on vacation in Vegas, eating at a restaurant with my kids. One thing after another, I got really angry at the hostess. I was hungry, cranky and so many reasons, but I got so angry that we had to leave the restaurant. Trying to cool me down, my teenage son shared something that has stayed with me: "Dad, you have to be in the service business to understand their situation."

At the time, of course, I didn't hear my son at all. But this is the kind of person I was, before my inner journey started. Few years of practice later, I still get angry a few times, but I also have a lot more compassionate moments. Two steps forwards, one step back, but overall progress. Now, I could hear my son words much more clearly. "Dad, you don't know what it's like to be in the shoes of another."

Subconsciously, I think that "being in someone else's shoes" inquiry prompted me to become a cab driver. Now, some context -- I have three college degrees, did my engineering and MBA from a ranking school, and have a good job in high-tech. Still, I became an Uber driver. I would just drive for a couple hours, after work. Better than just hanging out and wasting time, but I thought it also might teach me a thing or two.

So, life as an Uber driver? What can I say? Man, people get *angry*. If I would've encountered some of these episodes few years earlier, I would have literally pulled over and gotten into a fist fight with my customers! Yeah. But now, I just sit there and practice patience -- and maybe a little bit of compassion every so often.

Two months ago, I picked up a gentleman from one of these high-tech companies. Given his dressing, he looked like an Executive. Now, the thing with Uber is that you're given an address but you don't always know whether it's the front of the building or the back. So I ended up in the back of the building, and he was waiting for me in the front. Because of that he got late by a couple of minutes. And. He. Was. Furious. Wow, just a couple of minutes, and so much anger?!? I just sort of felt pity, somewhat sad that he just couldn't control his temper.

Another time, a 75 year old gentleman, took "Uber Pool" -- it's like carpool, and helps you save some money, if you have a little bit of extra time. I dropped him off at his location, and he asked me to drop him off further. I said I couldn't do it, because I had to head home which with an hour back in the another direction. And he got really angry!



Bit by bit, I'm learning my son's advice. "Dad, you don't know what's it's like to be in the shoes of another." That day in Vegas, and many such moments of anger, I was just concerned about my view. Now, as a cabbie, I see another view.

What I "wonder" about is how I will ever know what it's like to be in the shoes of every single person? And if I can never know, how will that change me?