So, let's talk about the realistic, unfortunate, and exhausting truth regarding long traveling excursions. Through a camera lens, or the glassy screen of social media, traveling looks like smooth sailing. But honestly, sometimes it sucks. Sometimes it can be absolute shit. It can even become your own personal hell to be stuck in an airport for hours on end, or worse, stranded.
A similar occurrence started off my trip to London, causing my family and I to develop a firm belief in a curse upon our travel to the UK. At first, we were only escorted off of our already full plane due to the sudden appearance of an engine light. This was less problematic for us, and more irritating since we would still be able to catch our connecting flight to London. That is until they moved the departure time back even later to the point that it was pointless for us to get on the flight at all. Our first night in London was gone.
This was obviously very disappointing and frustrating to experience. Especially for my poor parents (bless them) who had to find a hotel for the night, another flight, AND make sure we got some hefty vouchers from the airline for the outstanding level of inconvenience. My mother essentially had a breakdown, for good reason, and my brother threatened to "sue" the airline near the end of the night (he's sixteen).
In case you're curious, we got all of the three. So here I sit, in the Atlanta airport, waiting to board our French airline to the London Heathrow airport. Despite that the start of this trip has been hectic and more tiring than necessary, it allowed me to reflect on the slight misfortunes.
1- We were still going to England. Even if it was half a day late, we were still fortunate enough to go on this trip, stay in a wonderful city, and get to study there (this just being me, but you get the point.)
2- I truly do not believe things just happen out of random coincidence or unlucky fate. There is a plan and always has been for the way things will turn out. Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. In fact, what if our plane had taken off yesterday with the engine light being disregarded or unnoticed? Something much worse than a delayed flight would have been the outcome. Or maybe a car would have sped too quickly through a crosswalk as we stepped out to cross a London street? Regardless, what really did happen is the reality we live in and sometimes accepting the things that are unpleasant, allows us to appreciate the small victories within.
Like these small airport victories:
- witnessing a grandmother crying with joy and greeting her grandchildren at a terminal
- getting a free iced coffee!
- having abundant time to read a good book
- having abundant time to write
- being able to anticipate an incredible adventure ("looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them" @ anne of green gables)
- listening to an incredible playlist you made especially for the trip
- getting to see a sunset and sunrise in one journey
- laughing with family over a situation only the group of you understands
- the sigh of relief when realizing you remembered an extra hairband
Safe travels everyone, and remember, sometimes it's shit.
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