Less is valued more - A lesson from the airport departure and arrival gate

It’s been two weeks since we hugged our Aussie family goodbye. We boarded a plane for Tokyo, excited to see the sights of a country we had never experienced. The next ten days were a non-stop deep dive into Japan, from Tokyo to Mt Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. We ate more Ramen in those ten days than I have consumed in my lifetime. It was a fantastic trip to an amazing country full of beautiful people.?

As an Australian living and working in America and married to an American with a lust for travel, our lives seem to be directed by the TSA wand. Who needs overpriced airport coffee when you have a complimentary early morning pat down? We spend a lot of time in airports, whether traveling to a keynote, going home to see family, or going abroad to explore places like Japan. I thrive on travel, but I also find it to be an emotional rollercoaster.?

For years, I’ve watched the interactions at the departure gate with interest, families snagging one last hug before their loved ones walk through security, and the waves, tears, and sadness in the eyes of strangers. I’ve also smiled at the excitement, joy, and eagerness at the arrivals gate. Eyes darting through the hundreds of strangers, searching for a familiar face, and the sprint to grab that first hug just a little sooner. It is the same location, but two very different experiences. It always seems to be such a genuine show of emotions, whether it be saying hello or see you later. No fluff, no clutter, no judgment, just pure human emotions.?

My wife and I feel those same feelings in our own hellos and goodbyes. I’d argue that there’s no more incredible joy than when my niece or nephew runs and jumps into my arms. For me, it’s the peak of living. It fills my soul.?

Is it the goodbyes that make the hellos that much sweeter? Is it the long, scratchy FaceTime calls that make face-to-face conversations all the more powerful? Is it the distance that makes that first hug even more memorable?

I believe the answer is yes.

Ever since COVID and the resulting two-year lockout from my home country, my wife and I have committed to spending three months a year in Australia. To the surprise of others, we do whatever it takes to ensure we spend that time at home. Each year, as our time in the USA comes to an end, we find ourselves longing for an Aussie coffee by the beach, a swim in the salt water, and time with family and friends. As our time in Australia ends, we become similarly excited to see our US family and friends and the adventures the northern hemisphere offers. I truly believe that the quality of our interactions with others, our relationships, and our gratitude toward what we have in our lives has been dramatically increased by not having access to it at all times. Instead, satisfaction has been found in balancing both distance and time.?

By viewing our time and our relationships as commodities, we begin to make more intentional decisions about how we interact with both. It fosters a deeper sense of awareness and agency, leading to better decision-making that results in a life that aligns closely with what truly matters: our why.?

This same awareness and intentionality must be applied to our day-to-day decision-making. It’s not about having all or nothing. We live in a world that seems to encourage an unhealthy imbalance of work and to-do’s over these special, often simple moments of happiness and joy, and it’s leaving many of us feeling out of control when it comes to how we feel and how we spend our time. We also live in a world that seems to promise eternal happiness, packaged in the next thing, achievement, or milestone, but the promised land never seems to be found beyond the finish line. It’s affecting mental health and leading to burnout, depression, anxiety, and overall unhappiness. ?

Instead of going all in and chasing a life where we have exactly what we want all of the time, maybe the greatest potential lies in acknowledging and appreciating the rarity and value of the moments we long for. It’s not about more, but instead appreciating what we already have.

I was emotional as I sat on the Qantas jet in Sydney, waiting to depart. ‘I still call Australia home’ was being played through the overhead speakers, yet I was leaving. For a moment, it seemed wrong. Despite that emotion, I am grateful for the distance that cultivates gratitude and creates that longing that makes the next ‘G’day’ that little bit more special. Deep down, I know that the next time I land in Sydney and hear that same song, it will evoke a completely different emotion: the pure joy of arriving back 'home'.?

Do you appreciate every moment as if it was a fleeting moment, even if it isn't? I hope you do.

"Airports see more sincere hugs and kisses than wedding halls. The walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches."

Here is a video that I believe captures the emotions of an airport better than any other - https://youtu.be/1jhJCVnyUt0?si=gJ7XXrRpplRPTbnQ