My husband and I have been really looking forward to our trip to Florida for a family reunion. Because of COVID, we have not been able to go for the last two years, so we were especially looking forward to reconnecting with our family and spending time in the sun.
Our expectations were quickly altered when we looked at the weather forecast and saw that rain was predicted for five of the seven days of our vacation. We changed our car rental from a convertible to a more sensible choice just before boarding the plane for the first leg of our flight south. We made it to Charlotte without incident, and then watched for hours as our flight was delayed due to an enormous storm crossing over Florida.
My husband and I did several things to pass the time. We alternately walked around the airport to get some exercise. We engaged fellow passengers and had several pleasant interactions. We read our books and email on our phones. We tried to make a game of when we would leave.
When the gate agent announced that we had a short window of time to take off if we were going to make it to Florida, everyone cooperated, and several people commented about how pleasant and understanding everyone was being. As we landed in the rain in Florida, a collective spontaneous cheer erupted from the passengers.
When we collected our luggage, one of the wheels from my bag had come off. As I was pointing this out to my husband, one of our fellow passengers told me about the wonderful experience he had when his luggage was damaged and encouraged me to go to the customer service counter. I went to the counter and made a couple of additional positive connections there.
While all of this was playing out, I remember making several conscious decisions to not be annoyed or angry. I know that this was why others stepped in to help and I know that many of them had also made the same intentional decision not to be angry.
When we finally arrived at our condo, our family expected us to be in a terrible mood, but we were not. I am not sure how much I influenced or was influenced by the other passengers\’ choices to remain positive and civil, but I know that my internal dialogue and choices made the experience better for me and my husband.
Travel delays are often unpredictable and can be extremely frustrating. In situations where you feel a lack of control, taking ownership of your response can help to put you and others at ease. This week, I encourage you to make the conscious decision to choose serenity in the face of unexpected adversity.
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