"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow" -Helen Keller
Today started off well, woke up a few minutes before my alarm and got my self dressed and out the door on time. Upon arrival to GSO, I unloaded my bags and headed to security. Made it through without a hitch - minus being told my passport was invalid- brief moment of panic before being told I needed to sign it to validate it, swift scribble of the pen and a few minutes to let my heart-rate ease back down and I was good to go! The flight was smooth and despite the rain on the ground, the views in the sky were breathtaking, thanks to seat preference I was able to snap a few shots from the window seat before settling in to the music on my headphones.
Upon arrival to D.C., we stepped down the ladder steps and onto the tarmac before heading into to the terminal. The brisk breeze was a little bit of a surprise. After getting into the terminal and over to my gate I was informed that the plan was slightly delayed for some mechanical issues. That's when it got interesting. Initially it was just a 30 minute delay, which ideally would have been perfect because that would have put me in Punta Cana at the precise time my friends flight from Atlanta would be landing. They got us all set, lined up and ready to start boarding. All good to go boarding has begun... but wait, just kidding. Now- we are unboarding and our flight has been delayed again. This time, a few hours as it has been deemed that the aircraft is not safe to fly and therefore we needed to wait for a new aircraft to fly in from Florida.
Now, I don't know about you but if someone tells me the aircraft is unsafe to fly, my response is surely- Okay thank you very much I will wait for the safe plane please. To my shock, this is not quite the same response amidst the group. Now trust me, I get it. You have vacation plans, maybe going to a wedding, going to see family, or maybe flying home... but are any of those events really going to matter if your plane disintegrates over the ocean because some do-hickey on the whatchamacallit stopped working?!? I mean I was just as disappointed as the next girl, I promise you, but I also have a lot of plans in my life that I want to be around for. Plus I am pretty sure my sister would be pissed if I wasn't around to enjoy Finland next year. :-)
What was even crazier than the frustrated individuals begging to get on a broken plane was the way they were reacting to the poor women at the desk who were thrown into the lions den like a fresh steak. I mean really people, they are just doing their jobs. I am pretty sure none of those women woke up this morning thinking 'man today would be a great day to cancel some flights and really screw with people.' These women went above and beyond to answer questions, relay information, arrange for snacks, water and meal vouchers. Just when you think the pride couldn't become more aggressive to these ladies, watch what happens when the printer breaks halfway through the alphabetical printing of said vouchers. Now these ladies could have snapped, in fact they had every reason to, but they held their composure throughout. Now with my name bringing up the rear of the alphabetical order list (childhood all over again) I was able to sit back to the very end of this chaotic process and just watch it unfold.
And then... one gentleman left in front of me. As he reaches the desk he asks how does he go about contacting customer service. Now if you are a people watcher you may have seen this 'type.' The guy that looks like he is reaching his boiling point, pacing quietly as he stalks his prey, filling with frustration and rage, tension building, and it's about to happen. He's about to go in for the kill. And then... ... ... he proceeds to take down each ladies name and thanks them for all of their hard work and courtesy. He tells them they have handled things exceptionally and that his desire to contact corporate is merely to compliment them for their work. Man... what a powerful moment to witness. Kindness in it's truest form. These ladies, who were surely stressed out at this point gained this sense of calmness over them. I too, smiled and thought about the way the morning had just unfolded and how a little bit of kindness and positivity changed things.
Now i am sitting here on the floor typing away on this laptop feeling grateful. One because I am sitting here awaiting my flight and not falling out f the sky trying to put on an oxygen mask or secure a flotation device. And two, im going on a trip to paradise, a trip I have been very much looking forward to. And three, I’ve got a chocolate cookie :)
I am sitting here smiling and content knowing I'm going to have a good trip and a lot of fun. I am choosing to look at the good in this experience because seriously who wants to let a little 3 hour delay ruin all the fun that is in store. Sure I could be angry, frustrated, miserable... but where is that gonna get me, what is that gonna do aside from put a sour taste in my mouth at the beginning of this whole travel experience. Nah, I'm not down for that.
There are a lot of times in life where it is easy to get caught up in the frustrations of a situation, at work, at home, on the phone with the cable company etc, but I have learned first hand that it is really hard to change your mindset once you go off the deep end, and that nothing good comes out of those emotions. So instead, I am choosing to smile, be happy, have some patience, and see the good in whatever happens. It's not always easy, and i let my emotions get the best of me sometimes too, but when you are given the opportunity, take a minute, look around and ask yourself - "what really matters?'
Cheers to an adventurous morning and the lessons of life that surround us all... now on to paradise!
�� great blog! Enjoy your trip.
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