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Self Acceptance and Forgiveness

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A minimalist illustration showing a small figure pulling on a tightly coiled red spring. The figure is simple, with no detailed features, and is positioned beside the spring, struggling to uncoil it. The background is plain grey or white, emphasising the tension between the figure and the spring. The design is clean and uncluttered, highlighting the sense of resistance and effort.
Effort against resistance, where persistence struggles to overcome obstacles.

People say in their final moments on the bus route, ah, the relationship you have with your passengers is the most complicated one. After all, it's a relationship where you can’t just pull over and walk away when things get tough. You have to find a way to forgive them for forgetting their pass again, endure their endless chatter about the weather or their latest complaint about the tube, and keep your cool when they decide to conduct a live phone call at full volume right next to you.

No matter how frustrated, exhausted, or weary you feel, it won’t change the faces staring back at you through the rear-view mirror—determined, distracted, oblivious to the delicate balance of public transport harmony that you’re trying to maintain. It’s a mirror that reflects passengers talking loudly on speakerphone, leaving their belongings on the seats, or even attempting a daredevil leap for the closing doors just as you're pulling away.

But you must carry on, because no amount of eye rolls, deep breaths, or internal monologues about the state of humanity will change the fact that these are the people you’re responsible for until the very last stop. So, here’s to enduring the endless parade of requests, the bizarre behaviours, and the occasional outbursts—all while trying to keep the bus on schedule, the brakes functional, and the passengers safe. It’s a test of patience, sanity, and maybe even grace. And no matter what happens, you'll still be here, behind the wheel, facing your reflection in the rear-view mirror until the end of the line.

The Bus Driver

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