Plane rides…I love them!
While I don’t always love traveling alone, I don’t mind it. A good book, a pen and notebook, ear buds and some music, a podcast, or audiobook…and I am all set.
No…that’s not exactly true. That is how I pass the time but what I really find interesting is PEOPLE! People watching and engaging with new people fills my soul.
That is actually my favorite part of traveling. Heck, it is my favorite part about weekend grocery shopping and errands.
I LOVE PEOPLE!
That’s not to say that I don’t need a break from people to recharge my internal battery…but that is a blog for a different day.
Back to people…I have always loved people watching. From wondering what their story is, what their relationships are like, what they love and what they hate, why they feel that way, what dreams they have never shared with the world or even their loved ones, what fear they hide, what they have tried and succeeded at and what they have tried and failed at, what brings them to tears of joy, what makes their eyes light up and the smile stretch across their face, and what motivates them.
People have fascinated me from a young age. I suppose it makes sense then that my career and degree have been people centered; human resources and social work.
Recently I traveled to Chicago for a work trip. The small 17 row plane was filled to capacity. I took my seat in Row 17 Seat D against the window. A gentleman sat in the seat beside me, he smiled, got settled in and pulled out his earbuds. I also settled in for the short flight.
A little while into the flight, he was trying to connect his charger to the port. The ports on the plane were at the bottom of the seat in front of us, which made getting it plugged in a difficult task considering the limited space and dimly lit cabin. I turned on my phones flashlight in an attempt to make it a little easier on him. This is where I found my opening for an attempt at connection. I know some people don’t want to be bothered, but when he pulled out his earbuds and enthusiastically started talking I was ESTATIC. My audio book and downloaded podcast had nothing on this (sorry Brene’ Brown and Adam Grant). Conversation and Connection with a perfect stranger…yes, please.
Internal Fulfillment ACTIVATED.
Our conversation started out in the way I assume many seat mates conversations on a plane start out. Are you from Chicago or where we just left? His answer - Neither…Chicago was the layover and waiting point before the next leg of his flight home. He had been on vacation with friends. He mentioned how he always talks about moving to where we were flying out from.
He then pulled the uno reverse card and asked the same question. I explained that I had moved to where we had just left about 9 months ago but travel back and forth to Chicago every few months for work.
Next question - what do you do for work? I explained my work with my company and how it has changed since the purchase by the new company, the professional development program I created for new and emerging leaders.
Now it was my turn for the reverse uno card and I asked what he did. This is how it started. Then we went deeper. He talked about his current role, the challenges and what he loves about it. He talked about coaching members of his team and about life before his current role. I talked about writing and publishing my book.
Instant spark. He shared that he had been wanting to write a book, wasn’t sure people would want to read it, shelved the idea, but had begun kicking it around again lately. He wanted to know more about my book, publishing it, my reaason for writing it.
We both were fully engaged and he lit up as he talked about wanting to write his book; the why, the obstacles, the trauma, the purpose.
When I tell you my entire soul was into this conversation, I am not exaggerating in the tiniest bit.
As the plane landed and we parted ways as he needed to start running to make his connecting flight, he shared that he had really enjoyed our conversation and felt a renewed sense of inspiration to pen and publish his book. He thanked me and after quickly getting connected on socials, we deboarded and I watched him, with a smile spread across my face, as he started walking faster until he broke into a jog and disappeared into the crowd that is a constant at O’Hare Airport.
I have never been the person who makes small talk look effortless. It is almost painful for me. I struggle with the niceties of it. I do not care about the weather, or your social status, how much money you have or what car you drive (unless it’s a classic - then I want pictures and a video of that engine purring!). Small talk is an obstacle for me, because I am in a hurry to see what it is that lights up your entire being. I want to see what passion lies behind what you show the world.
This conversation reminded me of the stories we hold onto, that if shared could inspire others, give them hope that they can be okay, or become a point of connection with another human being.
We all have stories; some happy, some sad, some traumatic, and some inspiring. Each story has a lesson for us and for those we share it with.
We all also have dreams; some people put their dreams into action - always pursuing the next one, while others put them to sleep and once in a while pull them out, examine them, and then tuck them away again for one reason or another.
Some people have experienced events that made them stop dreaming - but we all have dreams that we carry, whether spoken or unspoken, pursued or quietly put to bed.
What dreams are you pursuing? What dreams have you tucked away? What makes your soul feel rejuvinated and excited?
Let’s dream a little dream together!
