Tonight as I approached a TTC collector's booth and there was a sign that said "The Collector will return shortly. In the meantime, please pay your fare and enter." A middle aged lady who was exiting the subway saw me stopping to get the fare out my wallet of said "Don't pay the fare when he is gone.  Everybody does it."  I thought to myself just because "everybody does it" doesn't mean I should do it and deposited my ticket plus the additional 25 cents required for the recent increase in TTC fare.  Don't get me wrong I'm not that pleased about the recent TTC hike but my philosophy is treat others (organizations included) as you yourself would want to be treated.



I walked down the stairs and was about to enter the subway car and at the last minute realized I had promised to drop off something for a dear friend.  As I turned around climbed the stairs and exited the subway my ego was a little upset that I had wasted a good fare on my "principles".  I met my friend dropped of the item that she needed at her home and walked back towards the subway contemplating what I would do if the collector was again on duty.  By far the easiest thing would be if collector hadn't returned I'd walk through without paying as I had already paid my fare.

When I arrived at the booth again I found the Collector had returned and a number of people were lined up paying their fares and getting change. I went to the back of the line and waited for the crowd to die down hoping after I had a chance to explain my story the Collector would let me back on the subway without paying a second time.  I waited until the line-up had subsided and when I reached the Collector I explained my story.  I told him I would appreciate it if he could let me pass through this time without paying as I had already technically paid my fare half and hour earlier.

The collector smiled and said that would be happy to let me on again and apologized to me that he had left the booth unattended a while earlier.  I told him he had nothing to apologize for and was pleased he had trusted me just like the TTC had trusted me to pay my fare.  I noticed this TTC collector was wearing an Ipod so I gave him my card and encouraged him to visit the Find A Way site as I was sure he'd be interested in some of the music we've done here at the Studio.

As I headed home I remembered how good I felt about both paying the fare because in my heart I knew that was the right thing to do and the bonus of receiving the very same thing back from the TTC booth collector.  It is really true what goes around comes around.  I couldn't help but think how much better this world would be if the kind of trust the TTC Collector showed me and a deep commitment to right action was the norm in society.  I hope this TTC Collector (unfortunately I don't know his name) I met tonight does visit our website and if he does he might read this blog and know that his act of trust was so very much appreciated by this TTC customer.