The reason we share media is because we want to accomplish one or more of the following:

• We want to be useful
• We want to be viewed as competent
• We want to be thought-provoking

The incredibly talented support teacher from my class this past spring semester shared something with me today that was helpful, thoughtful and thought-provoking. I watched the video at my office after a grueling commute this morning on BART. I will share it with you in a moment.

While my commute was not  exactly dangerous, it was filled with a laundry list of classic annoyances that in total could leave one exhausted before we even put our butts in our office chairs for the day.

A lady on BART was cutting coupons with what appeared to be some very sharp scissors and was admonishing all who came near her to keep their distance. She cut the coupon then threw the scraps on the floor of the train, oblivious to what was going on around her.

This was her world, her seat, her coupon extravaganza; nobody was going to stop her from doing exactly what she wanted to do.

Then there was Trains Are A Perfect Place To Trim My Toenails Guy, sitting near Very Loud Cell Phone Talker Lady.

Sigh.

I return my shopping cart to the store. I use my blinker. I do not speak loudly in public when I’m on the phone. I say please and thank you. But I cannot be a resident of Earth and pretend that my actions and behaviors aren’t bugging the hell out of somebody!

We have a choice in this life. We can decide to make the best out of our daily situations or we can just hate everyone always. The latter seems to require so much mental energy. Mass transit has its weird and wild side. Shopping carts are in the middle of lots. People share their business on phones all too often. But sometimes, many times, we can choose to let it go, and  this release can liberate us!

When my students and clients complain to me about the economy, the job market, their family situations or their lack of motivation, I tell them they have a choice; work the system and understand its flaws, or make excuses and guarantee nothing ever changes in their life.

We have a choice, always. The degree and intensity of our change is uniquely ours, but it’s there for the taking.

I loved this video, and now I’m paying it forward.

Before I got off BART this morning, there was a nice lady sitting next to me. When the train stopped at the Montgomery Street station, the woman reached down and picked up the paper that crazy coupon lady  left behind.

I thanked her as we were walking out. “I just wanted you to know you are appreciated.”  She smiled.

John Scott is a media studies instructor and the career services manager for the School of Multimedia Communications, Academy of Art University San Francisco. Check out his book,“Destination: Reinvention”, on sale now in the Amazon bookstore.