Bringing a Smile When Times are Tense
It was mid-December. Christmas was approaching. Flights were at capacity. Masked, expressionless eyes stared ahead, full of anxiety, as Omicron was at its peak of shutting down the world once again. Everyone on board our flight home from Paris was negative for Covid or they couldn’t board the plane, but the tensions were still high and each passenger seemed exhausted. There were so many hoops to jump through that sitting down in 12D was both a relief and a tiresome chore. This was my experience flying home from a holiday in Scotland and Paris on December 15, 2021. For the flight attendants who served us, this was their anxious reality every single day.
I considered being a flight attendant once. The allure of world travel and free flights whenever I pleased sounded right up my alley. But after watching the horror stories of the last two years in the air, I’m so glad this turns out to be a career I never pursued. Humanity…we can be so…UGH…what a mess the last years have been.
As a travel lover, I’m sure you’ve seen the stories all over the news of assaults on flight attendants by unruly passengers. I’m embarrassed. I’m just embarrassed. Aren’t you? And like so many other things in recent past, I’m left to sit in the tension of watching injustice and ugliness and not being able to do anything of great impact about any of it.
Or can I?.
I can do something.
I can choose blessing.
And it’s a bigger deal than we all think.
So the next time you fly, I challenge you to carry all the inevitable weight of what it means to take to the air in days like these, and then do just a tiny bit more (yes, MORE) and choose to intentionally bless the ones who are there to take care of us and keep us safe.
It’s still a privilege and a blessing to travel, which we all too often take for granted. How lucky we are to get to take off our shoes and undress in front of strangers at the airport, breath stale air through N95’s and then safely set our feet on the ground for another new adventure.
So next time, why not choose to change someone’s day for the better in the middle of it all, instead of succumbing to the status quo?
Here’s an idea how…
Tip: For each leg of your flight, pack in your backpack or purse a little Ziploc full of chocolate. Include a note to the flight attendants and just hand it to the first one you see when you board your plane. ‘Here’s a little something to say thank you,’ is all you have to mention when you pass your small offering along.
Offering a little kindness is always the better way AND it’s super fun when and if the flight attendants stop by to say “thanks” throughout the flight because it offers even more opportunities to love. Kindness and joy breeds kindness and joy…and don’t we all need just a little bit more of them both?
Try this once and you’ll never want to fly again without these precious blessings in your bag to share. I’ve gotta believe that such a small act of making others feel seen and appreciated has more power than we know.
Save Some Travel Money
Have you tried the Fetch Rewards app? Just scan each of your receipts as you go and watch the points add up. It’s free, easy and I just saved $50 on my next Airbnb stay!
Please, Hold Me Accountable
Finally, friends, I’m writing an ebook and I’m announcing it now so I don’t chicken out. My working title as of today is “Traveling the World for Almost Free” with the subtitle “An ultimate guide to gathering and using frequent flyer miles so you can travel again and again.”
Fingers crossed, I will have it ready to share by the first of April. If you don’t see it soon, please send a kind nudge my way and ask me why. I’m really excited to share all of this valuable information, compiled just for you, in one easy-to-access space. Get ready to save you tons of time and loads of money!
What I’m Consuming This Week
Rick Steve’s Monday Night Travel
Happy Travels,
Amy
Amy!! So excited for your e-book!! I’m cheering you on!!