Inspirational Video: Sleeping on Strangers

Come on, admit it! Like me, you’ve fallen asleep on the bus, plane or subway at some point in your life.

I spent a week in New York City this summer on vacation with the kids. It was the first time there for the kids; so one of the highlights for my son was riding the subway. He liked the intrigue of underground transportation, the musicians and performers that played at many stations, and the idea that locals use it for their primary mode of getting around (having grown up in the car culture of southern California, he found it hard to believe that most New Yorkers don’t even own a car).

Having made some early morning and late evening subway rides during our visit, we happened to witness several people fall asleep from the gentle rocking of the train; so when I first saw the micro-social experiment in the video below, I just had to smile.

Sleeping on Strangers!

Sure enough, there have been several times in my traveling history when my seatmate on a flight has fallen asleep and unwittingly leaned over to use me as a pillow. Those who know me probably understand that how I responded to a specific invasion of my private space really depended on the current rating on my grouchy-meter. The truth is, I’ve responded in virtually every way displayed in the video above.

No matter my own personal response, kuddos to those passengers who lent their heart and shoulders to the sleepy passenger.

Remember, every moment is a chance to help those around us.

Has this ever happened to you? If someone needed your shoulder while on the bus, train or plane, would you lend it to them? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below.