I used to hate the morning journey to my office on the underground due to the intolerable crowds and I doubt I am alone in feeling that way. But when I actually sat down to complain about it, it suddenly occurred to me that we should not despise the underground system. It is the underground that delivers us to our working places punctually and cheaply every day, even if the whole journey is sometimes a complete morning horror.

There are certainly a lot of things that could be done by the municipal government to improve the current situation, such as building more railways, replanning bus routes or applying a rush-hour pricing policy. But none of these issues can be solved by tomorrow, when we get up. So what can we do to help? Should we just let the situation continue to ruin our moods at the beginning of every day?

A girl inspired me on this issue. I meet her on the underground every day, just as I meet others, but she has the only smiling face I can see. When we finally began to talk, I wanted to begin my routine complaints, but with a question: "How do you feel being crowded in among so many people?"

She gave an amazing reply: "I feel as if I am being supported. Many people may think it horrible that there is no room to breathe and every time the train tilts, slows down or speeds up people tumble against each other, but actually we are also supporting each other so that few of us really fall down." She continued to elaborate on her happy philosophy: "I also feel I am being supported psychologically by seeing every one here leading a similar life to mine in this city. I am always delighted to give my seat to a needy person or reminding someone to pay attention to the gap."

I have to admit I don't fully understand her words, but they inspired me to wonder whether the primary problem with jams on the underground was simply one of attitude. In this regard, we can make a difference simply by giving a hand or a smile to each other.

Tolerance is crucial here, and in order to illustrate it, I have a story mainly about an underground innocent. He was only four and his parents had just bought him a pair of new shoes. He was so proud of them that he insisted on wearing them immediately. On the way home his family took the underground for part of the journey, and the little boy and his parents were standing very close to a man and a woman in the gangway. The woman suddenly turned and slapped the man with all her might, saying: "Keep your dirty hands off me."

The man, without a word, pushed his way to the alarm handle and pulled it. When the train rattled into the next station, an inspector ran into the carriage and tried to settle the bitter argument. The pair had to be removed from the train because there seemed no solution to the discord, and as the train pulled away, the argument was still continuing.

As soon as he got home, the little boy insisted on seeing his grandmother to show her his new shoes. "Aren't they lovely," she said, as he held out a foot to show her.

"Yes," he replied. "And as I was coming home there was a very naughty lady on the train. She stepped on my new shoes - so do you know what I did - I pinched her bottom."