Dear Readers,
As you know, I have spent quite a bit of time in airports this week coming back from Portugal, and as I have, I've been amazed. Why, you might ask? Simply put, it is because I have seen what airports do to people, and that is amazing!
I would like to share a couple of examples here of how this is true;
1. No one ever judges you for the way you look in an airport. You can walk around in your comfy clothes without your hair looking perfect and you can even have one of those neck pillows on and no one gives it a second thought. Everyone knows that we're all in for a tiring experience ranging from an hour to over thirty based on location and destination--and everyone understands.
2. Everyone is helpful. It seems to me that in every flight that has ever occurred there will inevitably be that one person that has a hard time getting their bag into the overhead compartment. There is also inevitably some kind person that will help. Everyone knows that sometimes our baggage is heavy and unwieldy, and they're always with a disposition to help.
3. Whenever someone sits next to you, you can have a friendly conversation. This one a little less sometimes--I know that by the end of my travels I was zonked out and wasn't in a very talkative mood, but there is always something to say. People care. Where are you going? Where are you from? Are you on vacation? Without ever knowing your name, people will share their lives with you, and will allow you to do the same. They provide a listening ear without needing all the details.
4. Everyone has your back in one way or another. Did you drop something? Did you accidentally forget your cell phone charging where you sat by your gate? Did your bag fall and dispel all of its contents on the floor? There is always someone that is more than willing to help you out. They make sure that you make it to where you are going with everything that you came with.
These are just a few things that I observed in my travels this week, and I am grateful for the eye-opening experience. Seeing the kindness and unity that people bring with them in their travels is a testimony to me of the goodness in the world.
Now--I thought as I was writing this, what if we decided to make the world our airport, so to speak. I know that most of us do this naturally, but imagine if we honed in the same ideas in our day to day lives;
1. What if we didn't judge people?
2. What if we helped people with their baggage, helped them carry their loads?
3. What if we just talked to new people, just to know them better?
4. What if we decided to always have each others' backs, no matter what?
As I said, I imagine that most of us do this all the time, but what if we decided to do more? I found a video this morning and although the concept is familiar, I wanted to add it in here just to make a little point. When we do something that appears small, we're actually helping a greater cause. We're helping the cause of hope, of faith, of kindness, and the cause of humanity itself.
My name is Doug Knuth, and I believe in the good in the world.
