Don't Let Misfortune Turn Into Baggage...
In life when the baggage gets too heavy, you have to put it down- Nikki Sixx
I often enjoy the positive words of John Gordon. Just last night I watched a video of him telling a story about running through an airport with his family and how whenever he sees someone running through the airport he cheers them on. Not everyone appreciates this gesture, in fact some give him another gesture if you know what I mean? As luck would have it, I have been stuck at the Orlando airport for several hours now as my plane got stuck in San Diego and is missing our early evening date. Quite the opposite from Mr. Gordon's experience. Still no one is cheering me on.
I often take this very flight and I'm normally at the airport for a couple of extra hours, but never for eight. I was however trapped in the Newark airport for twelve hours once.When you're at the airport for that long of a period you have a lot of time to participate in one of my favorite activities. People watching and what better place than the airport?
Where am I going with this?
Interestingly enough I was having a conversation earlier today about things that we can't control, which is pretty much everything but ourselves. So the question is, why do we let our misfortunes become our baggage?
Many people had many choice words about their misfortune at the airport today. "Can you believe it?" "This is ridiculous?" Things of that nature. One guy spent an hour ranting on the phone to a co-worker spouting profanity that even made me blush! By the time he was done he was plotting an "exit strategy" from his company with his co-worker and revenge against another co-worker who sent an email to him and cc'd his supervisor and wasn't she just out to get him and he was going to think of a way to get her back. On and on and on it went. I'm not sure that contemplating career moves is the best choice when you've been sitting in an airport for far too long and have been emotionally high jacked. In fact it's almost impossible to determine what is fueling the feeling.
Interestingly enough I was having a conversation earlier today about things that we can't control, which is pretty much everything but ourselves. So the question is, why do we let our misfortunes become our baggage?
Many people had many choice words about their misfortune at the airport today. "Can you believe it?" "This is ridiculous?" Things of that nature. One guy spent an hour ranting on the phone to a co-worker spouting profanity that even made me blush! By the time he was done he was plotting an "exit strategy" from his company with his co-worker and revenge against another co-worker who sent an email to him and cc'd his supervisor and wasn't she just out to get him and he was going to think of a way to get her back. On and on and on it went. I'm not sure that contemplating career moves is the best choice when you've been sitting in an airport for far too long and have been emotionally high jacked. In fact it's almost impossible to determine what is fueling the feeling.
So what's the point?
Creating negative energy around our less fortunate experiences can have long lasting effects on our outlook on life. In other words; every time we allow ourselves to go to the dark side when we're delayed, dismissed or disrupted we create a story line in our heads that we have bad luck, people are out to get us or we'll never get a break. These stories grow and grow and turn in to the reasons why our relationships fail, our finances are down and our work is suffering. We sabotage ourselves at every turn with our thought process.
So what can you do about it?
Find ways to create as many positive and constructive moments as you can. I catch up on work projects or I write. There are so many smiles and touching moments to be seen at the airport. People who are traveling for work, for play, for weddings, for funerals, for war. It's all here reminding us that we're alive.
No question that the world is filled with uncertainty, danger, craziness, hatred and more, but it is also filled with joy, love, patience, creativity, kindness, beautiful things and beautiful people. When things don't go your way, take the time to assess the situation and determine what you truly have control over. Then take control of yourself and make the most of the moments you have, whenever you can have them. When we're young we're told to use our time wisely. In essence, it's important to pack the right things in the suitcase, because that baggage comes with us!
Creating negative energy around our less fortunate experiences can have long lasting effects on our outlook on life. In other words; every time we allow ourselves to go to the dark side when we're delayed, dismissed or disrupted we create a story line in our heads that we have bad luck, people are out to get us or we'll never get a break. These stories grow and grow and turn in to the reasons why our relationships fail, our finances are down and our work is suffering. We sabotage ourselves at every turn with our thought process.
So what can you do about it?
Find ways to create as many positive and constructive moments as you can. I catch up on work projects or I write. There are so many smiles and touching moments to be seen at the airport. People who are traveling for work, for play, for weddings, for funerals, for war. It's all here reminding us that we're alive.
No question that the world is filled with uncertainty, danger, craziness, hatred and more, but it is also filled with joy, love, patience, creativity, kindness, beautiful things and beautiful people. When things don't go your way, take the time to assess the situation and determine what you truly have control over. Then take control of yourself and make the most of the moments you have, whenever you can have them. When we're young we're told to use our time wisely. In essence, it's important to pack the right things in the suitcase, because that baggage comes with us!
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