We never know what ‘baggage’ the travelers next to us are carrying. Each person that winds through the long security lines has their own unique story. We’re clueless about the challenges the people around us are carrying with them at this exact moment in their journey – just as we have no idea about their gifts and expertise.
In the crowded airport spaces of our world, what if we chose to see this gathered mass of humanity through a lens of appreciation and compassion? Environments that are so often filled with frustration and tension could begin to be changed by the thoughtful individual actions of each traveler.
When I travel I try to spread this spirit in small ways along my path. On Monday, a tremendous connection in a matter of seconds was made with a stranger in New York’s La Guardia airport. Because of the amazing technological world we live in today, less than 24 hours later, this traveler had tracked me down online and shared her incredible account with me.
We have no idea the impact a few moments of compassion and good will can have on those around us. But, if we’re not careful, it could slowly change the world.
Pass it on.
Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.
Jason Barger spent seven straight days flying 6,458 miles to seven different cities – without leaving the airports the entire time. He studied 10,000 minutes of observations at all four corners of the U.S. and reflected on how our airport experiences can teach us about our lives TODAY. The funny and inspiring stories remind us how to change our daily world in our personal lives, businesses, schools, and faith communities! Join the movement. All four editions of Step Back from the Baggage Claim are motivational books perfect for anyone looking to impact change in their life and work.
