Waiting hours on a runway for “de-icing”, standing in three different lines to check odd-sized luggage or sitting squeezed in a middle seat… these are the times we say to ourselves, “It is what it is”. Logistics might go awry. Like Steve Martin in the movie, “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” we end up in a different city.
Faced with few options we either become grumpy (which isn’t recommended) or come to terms with the present situation. We have a choice: consider the circumstances (the “it”) or not. “It is what it is” means dealing head on with the “it”, understanding the “it”, accepting the “it” and then moving forward from there.
When heading home from work or away on vacation, we’re already “there” in our minds, well ahead of actually arriving. Our destination is set and being flexible isn’t our first “go to”. Accepting the “what is”, a delay, for example, is not easy, uncomfortable even. Emotions can get the better of us.
Fortunately we have tools, learned from traveling and daily life, that help us adapt to inconveniences, aka, logistical “nightmares”. Here are a few to consider:
Breathe, breathe, breathe. It sound almost trite to share these instructions but breathing three deep breaths absolutely reduces stress and centers attention on the present. We become aware of our bodies and place in the world right then and there. Breathing helps us re-focus attention on our thoughts and consider the right words and actions to employ.
Life can be a test! Have patience. We’ll get to the end of the page and be ok. Understand the situation, decide on the best course of action and then push through until the end. We’ll all pass!
Stamina. Dig in and decide that you have enough resilience to get through anything. Be extra gentle with yourself so as not to make a taxing situation worse.
Appreciation. Remember how much you have to be grateful for…such as the travel experience just experienced and a warm roof over your head. When stuck in a long line make a list of blessings. Feeling grateful puts life in perspective and improves our psyche. What’s the worst that can happen, anyway?
When travel logistics go awry, we often must interact with whomever is in our space, especially fellow travelers! The best tactic is to have some curiosity and observe (without judgment)! Check out what’s happening around you. Observe others. Reach out with a kind word (not a complaint). Smile and watch.
In “Trains, Plains and Automobiles”, Steve Martin is forced to travel with John Candy, two strangers banning together to find their way home. As much as Steve Martin dislikes his traveling companion, in the end, he realizes how they’re on this journey of Life together. Might as well enjoy it!
