Mirror Selfies and Affecting Reality

Lots of things in this world are rare:

1.  A Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly siting 

2.  Complete flight cancellations at 1:30am, standing in lines for 3 hours to be rebooked and checking into hotels at 4:30am. 

3.  And me taking mirror selfies. 

Well, two of the three happened last night as we navigated our flight into (and not out of) New York's JFK. 

What an experience.  Our flight was delayed an hour.  We taxied out only be delayed by fog (visibly was a beautiful 1/4 SM with an RVR of 1600-2200……meaning it was hard to see your hand in front of your face), taxied back for fuel and then to hear our pilots say, "we have exceeded our duty time."

As a fellow passenger said, "It's like something out of a movie." And in his best Planes, Trains and Automobiles voice he said, "I just need to get home for Thanksgiving."

Even though I was exhausted, I did chuckle.  

It really was a fascinating experience.   Being utterly exhausted and trying to navigate the cancellation was a challenge.  

And standing in the line to be rebooked for at least three hours I got to practice something David and I talk from time to time.  David you ask?  My coach.  He's amazing. 

The idea is this:  why waste time and energy feeling bad about something?  I mean, yes, the flight was canceled.  Be disappointed.  

But quickly get to being solutions-oriented.  Like really, what is being mad at the situation, angry at the people around me or victimy about the situation going to do to fix the issue?  

Correct.  Nothing.  

And. If I do choose to get angry or whatever, then feel it fully.  But then move on and get to moving.  

That's responsibility.  

We left JFK around 4:30am, checked into Yotel (pictured) and slept until around 10am (my crazy hair also pictured).  

And here's the thing:  waking up in midtown Manhattan on a beautiful morning isn't half bad.   We walked to Los Tacos (seriously, do it next time you're in NY), hopped an Uber to LaGuardia to make our way to Atlanta to catch with our bags 

The ins and outs of this story continue.  After getting rebooked today from LGA to ATL and then ATL to EDI, a thunderstorm here at LGA forced our inbound flight to divert to Providence (correct that is not here).  Sooooooooo we are now going to miss our connection in Edinburgh.  

At the time of this typing, we are now delayed from LGA to ATL until 11pm.  Update now 11:57pm (lol). 

Sooooooooo we will now fly from Atlanta to Boston tomorrow afternoon and Boston to Edinburgh in the evening.  

Today has been exhausting.  My body is feeling it.  My eyes are glazing over.  But I'm here.  And we are working together.  Figuring things out.  Making decisions.  Doing the best we can.  

Has the day gone the way I wanted to go?  No.  And the day has unfolded the way it has.  

And that's the point.  For me, I'm doing the best I can to be present, problem solve, be kind, ask for what I need.  And it's created some really beautiful connections.  Folks at the airport like Kevin, Jamel, Ann and others have been incredibly helpful.  And I can't help but think that our energy of "oh well, what's next to tackle?" has helped us navigate the challenges in community with others.  

It's as I've learned:

Problem only exists if I'm isolated.  If I'm connected, then it's a challenge. 

Anywho (yes I am tired if I'm using the word "anywho"), I'll keep you, the proverbial you, informed.  

Forward.  Keep moving forward.