Waiting

In Dr. Suess’ “The Places You will Go,” inevitably the reader ends up in the waiting place. I am currently sitting in an airport in that waiting place. On the one hand, it is a place characterized by boredom, impatience, and frustration. And on the other hand, it is a place to collect your thoughts, get lost in a good book, people watch, or get busy with those mundane tasks or work assignments that you put off.

If you are reading this, you know what I chose from the list above. I have decided to make the airport a place where I accomplish something, before I people watch or get back into the compelling book I am currently reading, Rough Animals. I have decided that from this day forward, I will endeavor to approach airports and travel time as an opportunity to catch up, feel productive.

All of us that travel a good bit understand that plane travel has become the modern version of taking the bus. After waiting, people are herded like animals through gates, down shoots, and ultimately into seats that are 2-4 inches too small. If they are lucky, they get some liquid while on board, but unlike animals, they are not fed-unless of course, they pay for it.

All of this is just another way of saying that attitude is everything. From this day forward, I am committing to adjusting my attitude about time and place. I am committing to seeing airports and travel time as an opportunity to catch up, hang out, meet or see someone or something new. I am committing to endeavor to bring that attitude to all aspects of my life. I am committing to banning boredom from my life. I cannot in good faith to commit to letting go fully of impatience and frustration. It is a start.