Up In The Air

The next time you see an airplane streak across the blue sky, take a moment to daydream and imagine what's happening up there at 36 000 feet inside the airplane cabin.

A business executive might be typing away at a proposal on her computer. Right beside her, there could be an older man sleeping comfortably. There's usually someone up there like me who planned on getting some reading done but instead has chosen to watch a movie and eat complimentary snacks. There may even be some children playing together in seats poking away at the screen of an iPad.

Yes, this post was written while I was literally “Up in the Air”

Up in the Air. All of these travelers are in-between spaces. They are not home, and they are not really at any destination. They all have one job; sit and enjoy the ride.

I get it; some people don't find these environments appealing. Being trapped in a pressure-sealed cabin with strangers in the sky doesn't put everyone at ease. Though I don't travel often, I enjoy plane rides like this. The altitude, coupled with temporarily having no immediate responsibility, gives me the space to think. I find it easier to think creatively, and I have a renewed ability to see what's possible. I'm also able to reflect on aspects of my life that should change. Travel does this for me.

We all have responsibilities that keep us grounded, but we need to find ways to look at our lives from a 36 000 foot perspective and permit ourselves to consider what could be possible for our life.

So if a plane ride isn't possible for you right now, maybe it's a good 3-hour road trip in any direction. Perhaps it's a phone call with someone you haven't connected with for some time. Do what you need to do to think about where you'd like to go next. Bonus Points: If you see new possibilities or potential in someone else, encourage them by sharing what you see. You can be the one that helps bring that 36 000 foot perspective to someone who needs to be challenged.

Friend, thanks for reading,