I've flown across the country to California and toured the greatest cities of Europe. I've witnessed the tropical beauty of the West Indies and the terribly cold winds of New England. Each trip has changed my perspective on life, but that change always seems to first take place in the sky.
It’s something about being in the air, window seat and staring out into the clouds that empowers me to be the best me. Being in the sky, away from the world for a few hours, gives me such a clear, optimistic vision of my past and present. After an hour, my ears remain stuffy and the clouds become thicker, but I become even more confidently connected with what seems to be the unknown journey ahead. Although I can’t physically see my destination, I know that this path is somehow leading me down to another side of the earth. When the clouds become cracked, the city visible and the pilot announces for everyone to turn off all electronic devices, I know that I’m not too far from completing the first half of my journey. This is my entire outlook on life.
From the time that it takes to accomplish my goals, to the turbulence and dense clouds that comes with experience, I am learning to enjoy the ride and the path that life takes me. As I always say, what fun would life be if it weren’t filled with varied experiences? What story would I have to share if everything I wanted was handed to me on a platter?
After my many unwanted experiences of waiting in airports for hours because of layovers, I once cringed at the thought of having to do it again. I thought "what a waste of time!" Well, after realizing some things are out of my control, I one day decided to take advantage of my extended stops. Now I take tours of the airport, may try a new bakery, and almost always people watch, admiring the diversity that airports bring. Life should be lived just like this! Forget complaining about the lengthy, once undesired pauses in life that are out of your control, use it to your advantage. My younger cousin didn’t make the basketball team his first year of high school and wondered how he would be able to wait an entire season before the next try-outs. Initially he felt down and even considered giving up basketball completely. However, his love for basketball and dreams of one day playing in college motivated him to use his layover time to practice as much as he could. The next year he tried out and stood out more than any other sophomore who went out. He not only made the team, but he became one of the key players on the squad. His "layover" allowed him time to develop into the star player that he knew he could be. If we all used wisely the layovers that life throws at us, we can approach opportunities even stronger and better prepared than we had envisioned.
After my many unwanted experiences of waiting in airports for hours because of layovers, I once cringed at the thought of having to do it again. I thought "what a waste of time!" Well, after realizing some things are out of my control, I one day decided to take advantage of my extended stops. Now I take tours of the airport, may try a new bakery, and almost always people watch, admiring the diversity that airports bring. Life should be lived just like this! Forget complaining about the lengthy, once undesired pauses in life that are out of your control, use it to your advantage. My younger cousin didn’t make the basketball team his first year of high school and wondered how he would be able to wait an entire season before the next try-outs. Initially he felt down and even considered giving up basketball completely. However, his love for basketball and dreams of one day playing in college motivated him to use his layover time to practice as much as he could. The next year he tried out and stood out more than any other sophomore who went out. He not only made the team, but he became one of the key players on the squad. His "layover" allowed him time to develop into the star player that he knew he could be. If we all used wisely the layovers that life throws at us, we can approach opportunities even stronger and better prepared than we had envisioned.
If you ask me, an entire travel experience is so symbolic of the way in which we should live our lives.
- Folasade Omogun
*photo courtesy of Google
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