10 Things I Learned from Oversleeping by 2 Hours on an International Travel Day

1.      Denial gets me nowhere. I awoke suddenly to see 5:05am displayed on the clock. I cried out, “No!” at the realization that my 3:05am intended wake-up time had come and gone. Admittedly, when things go wrong I often indulge in at least a bit of inquiry into “What happened?” or “How could this be happening?” But today I didn’t have a second to spare. Truth is, most days I don’t have a second to spare. So, what’s the point of denying reality, even temporarily? Just acknowledge what’s so and get moving.

2.      There is no one to blame (or credit) but myself. Had the same scene unfolded on a different day, I would have blamed the kids, my husband, my overbooked schedule, my chores that kept me up too late. Anything and everything would have been fair game to avoid accountability. But today it was just me. I’m often too quick to look around and see who or what circumstance contributed to my situation. It’s juicy and self-indulgent. It gets me nowhere to take others down with me. Step up, own up and act.

3.      Being prepared is essential. I often question my own incessant need to have the house clean, the bags by the door, the travel outfit picked out the night before. Today I was reminded why I do it. Had I not thought through all of the details when my head was clear, I would have likely left the house without a passport. Plan ahead, anticipate your needs and be ready to move on a moment’s notice.

4.      At 5am, I can (safely) run a red light. I was raised to play by the rules. This has been a great quality that has kept me out of the principal’s office, the ER and court (except for one hotly-contested parking ticket). But living inside the lines can have its limitations. As I assessed the situation, did a “Worst case scenario, I cry to the police officer” rehearsal, I went ahead and crossed the intersection. While I don’t recommend breaking the law, sometimes it’s ok to take some risk. Stop, assess and step on it.

5.      When I get to a roadblock, make my own detour. The street I needed to go down was blocked off. The police were directing traffic right. I knew going left would be faster. Rather than follow the herd, I stepped out of the car, asked the officer if I could go left and made my turn. This small decision saved me 10 minutes I didn’t have. Sometimes we follow because we assume others know the best, fastest, proper way. Following can work but it rarely results in a breakthrough. See where they are going, trust your inner compass and turn left.

6.      People are willing to help if I ask. Making requests of others has always been uncomfortable for me. I like to appear as though I can handle it all. Today I phoned ahead (hands-free, don’t worry) to request that the off-site parking hold the shuttle for me. They said, “yes”, they grabbed my keys and checked me in at lightning speed and had me on my way. Like my favorite movie, “Sliding Doors,” missing the shuttle would have had my day (and potentially my life) unfold in a different way. Ask for what you need, say thanks and board the bus.

7.      Don’t judge – it could be me one day. I pride myself on being an ultra-organized traveler. Usually one step ahead of showing passports, removing shoes and disinfecting tray tables, I have on at least one occasion (or 100), judged the people who skip ahead in the security line. “Can’t they get their s#!@ together?” or “Why should their lack of preparation slow me down?” Today I was that person and I was acutely aware of being on the other side. I felt compelled to reassure people that this wasn’t my usual M.O. by making jokes at myself, but nonetheless, I was that disorganized person. Empathize, turn off your judgment and step aside.

8.      I can help people even when they don’t ask. Settling onto my flight, barely having caught my breath, I see a woman struggling with too many bags and an infant. I get present to the fact that I am solo, and while missing my own 3 small children, I am mostly hands-free. I smile, I offer to help. She lets me hold her baby, adjust her carrier, stow her bags. I realize she speaks very little English but the language of motherhood is one that needs no translation. Look outside yourself, offer to serve and connect.

9.      Positive self-talk is like a superhero cape. As I raced through the morning, seemingly in slow-motion, I was not only thinking to myself but talking aloud to myself. “I can do this!” followed by “I’m gonna make it!” and an energetic “I’m almost there!” Upon observing myself, I took notice that I could have easily been saying, “You’re such an idiot” or “You’re never going to make it.” But where would that have gotten me? The energy created from speaking positively to and about myself was organic and powerful. Be mindful of your thoughts, intentional about your words and cheer yourself on.

10.  There is more than one way (my way) to achieve a goal. I have always watched people who are the last to board or run to the gate and wondered how they do it. I cherish my coffee at the gate and the extra time to people-watch. Today, I got to experience a different approach to travel. While I can confidently say that I prefer my usual timeline, every seat on the plane is full even though each passenger charted his or her own course to get here. Whether it’s listening to the other side of a political argument or trying a new cuisine, discovering how other people live is worthy of my time. Be open to influence, step into the unknown and experiment.