Take some form of public transportation. If you live in or near a big city, take a bus, train, subway, ferry, streetcar, or plane. Leave your car at home. If there is absolutely no way you can get to public transportation, ask a friend to pick you up.

When you're among these fellow passengers, imagine that you have all been placed together for a specific purpose. Speculate as to what it might be. What possible lesson could all these people be teaching you, or might you be teaching them?

Let your imagination take over, and see beyond the immediate and the given. Developing your imagination can expand the possibilities in your life. What creative effort could this particular group of people do well? A choir? Cheerleading squad? Construction crew? Amish village? Assign roles to various people. Try to imagine yourself the director of a movie and this your cast. What kind of movie is it? A romantic comedy? Cops and robbers? A horror movie?

Alan Epstein in How to Be Happier Day by Day