The Uber Conversation That Changed How I See People

During an Uber ride in LA, my driver asked me what I thought of the city. I hesitated, trying to mask my disappointment, and replied, “It’s interesting!” He smiled knowingly and said, “You’re not alone. Tourists always hate LA. They have one bad interaction with some random person and then start hating LA.’” Though I don’t hate LA, it was quite a different parallel from my small town in South Florida.

His observation made me think about how often we judge an entire place or experience based on a single interaction. But isn’t this something we do in many areas of life?

We all have bad experiences with people in our hometowns, but we don’t let one negative experience define our feelings about where we’re from. Yet when we’re in a new place, it’s tempting to allow a single bad moment to taint our entire perspective.

No matter where we go, finding “our people” takes time. Big cities like LA are filled with so many personalities that expecting instant connections with everyone is unrealistic. But when we do find those connections, they make the search worthwhile. Later that night, I met someone at the LA Opera who changed my perspective on LA again, showing me how this town is quite a hub for intellectuals.

This same idea extends to social media, where we often face unkind comments from strangers. These words can feel personal, but they’re often more a reflection of the commenter’s own struggles than of us. Like in LA, not everyone we encounter, online or offline, will align with us. And that’s okay.

This conversation served as a simple reminder to stay open and curious. Focusing on meaningful connections, we’ll always find “our people” wherever we go.

Best,
Karla