Story From the Sky

In 2013 I was on a 2 hour flight (the first of 3 flights total on an international trip). Early on into the flight, I asked a question to the flight attendant. We had a brief exchange and then she left. A few minutes later, she came back over to have a conversation. She was asking where I was headed, where I was from, etc. She started sharing about her life and what caused her to pursue her career. About 20 minutes into the conversation, she just sat on the ground in the aisle so we could keep talking. Almost a full hour went by and I had heard most of her life story. She was a cancer survivor, a mom of 2, a health advocate, and an adventure seeker. The conversation felt so meaningful and encouraging, that at one point we both starting tearing up. Eventually she had to go back to her duties and went to the front of the plane. As we were landing, she made an announcement to the entire plane. She said, “We are about to land and I just want to say that this has been one of the best flights of my life, and I hope that you are met with meaningful conversation wherever your day takes you.”

10 years later and I still think about this interaction. I honestly cannot even remember the flight attendant’s name, but I’ve never forgotten her story. It’s something that crosses through my mind every several months.

That flight was one of the pivotal moments for me in my travel journey. It was then that I realized that travel opens up the opportunity for connecting with humans in such a unique way. I love seeing the history of a place. I love trying foods in different parts of the world. But the most significant part of travel for me is in meeting new people and learning new stories. Those are the things that stick in my brain.

So this is your encouragement for next time you travel: take the time to connect with people. Ask questions. Pay the compliment. Talk to the stranger (but be safe of course).

Happy Traveling!