It was another Monday at the airport.

The parking lot was packed and the line for the shuttle bus was long.

I squeezed in just as the doors began to close.

There was no place to sit down, so I stood near the driver next to the handrail.

If you’ve ever been on an airport shuttle, you know there is often more turbulence on the ride to the terminal than there is in the air.

It was a typical shuttle bus crowd.

Grumpy business travelers.

First-time flyers frantically trying to get it together.

Vacationers.

We departed the bus stop and promptly hit our first speed bump.

Our bus apparently had no shock absorbers.

The bus listed from side to side like a ship in a storm.

The guy next to me was trying to manage his cup of coffee without spilling it on his shoes.

I was more concerned about my shoes.

As the driver righted our ship, I heard a giggle from the back of the bus.

I leaned into the aisle and on the very last seat was a young family.

A mom, dad, and a little girl with blonde pigtails.

I lost my balance as we hit another speed bump.

The little girl threw her hands in the air and shouted, “WEE!”

Captain Coffee scowled.

The lady across from me looked at the parents with judgment in her eyes.

Mom quickly told her little darling to be quiet.

The little girl folded her hands and placed them on top of her pink suitcase next to the luggage tag shaped like mouse ears.

We hit the next speed bump and as those blonde pigtails swung from side to side as she raised her hands and shouted, “WEE!”

Mom shushed the little girl again.

But this time, the sweet little lady sitting next to the girl leaned over and said, “I bet I know where you’re going.”

The little girl looked up and said, “I am going to see Mickey Mouse!”

Mom smiled.

About that time, we hit the next speed bump and the lady grabbed the little girl’s hand and raised it in the air and shouted “WEE!”

The entire bus erupted with laughter.

Even Captain Coffee couldn’t help but chuckle.

One more speed bump before the terminal.

We all knew it was coming.

The lady leaned over and whispered to the little girl, “Are you ready?”

“Yup!” the little girl said with a smile.

The lady grinned and said, “Here we go!”

We hit the final speed bump, and everyone put their hands in the air and shouted “WEE!”

Even the bus driver.

The little girl looked up at her mom and said “See, I don’t need to shush.”

It was pure magic.

I think about that little girl sometimes.

Especially when I’m stressed and tired.

When my humanness sneaks up on me and I want to be grumpy.

What I know is that influence is always a choice.

We can be influenced by our surroundings and conform to the negativity around us.

Or we can be the influencer.

We can be joyful and happy.

We can transform the environment we’re in.

It seems the whole world wants us to shush.

To hide our light.

I think we should be more like our little pigtailed friend.

Be the change.

Be positive.

Be happy.

And just maybe, you can make the ride for others a little more worthwhile.

Kevin D. Brown is a branding and culture expert. He’s an award-winning motivational storyteller, bestselling author, and the creator of The Hero Effect®.