Insight
August 31st, 2010 § 21 Comments
One of the things I love about traveling and seeing new places is that genuine “newness” that everything has. It’s seeing places and people that my eyes have never looked at and taking it all in. For this reason, airports are one of my favorite places to just hang out. I really wish I had been in my 20s pre- 9/11 because in my opinion, the perfect first date would consist of sitting in a terminal, coffee in hand, making up stories of passersby.
Since that’s never going to happen, I’m content to just see as much of the world as I can with fresh eyes. Having relocated to a different part of the country, every day holds a surprise or two. What I wasn’t expecting, though, was how my perspective could change through the eyes of someone else.
Can you believe there is no such thing as a Target in Canada? The horror! Lucky for Alex, there were plenty on our trip. I will never forget her excitement as we pulled up and she went running from the parking lot into and through the store.
We did this poor girl a disservice by taking her in at 9:45 – 15 minutes before the place closed. She literally ran the aisles, eyes wide and bright. I lagged behind, laughing and documenting. When we visited another store in Texas, she couldn’t get enough! Homegirl practically walked out of there with a whole new wardrobe. Her excitement was palpable. It was refreshing.
The whole experience got me thinking. How often do I put myself in the position to be completely consumed with the excitement for something new? How easy is it to let a negative attitude prevail when suddenly your day isn’t going as planned? Lose your temper? Start cursing and yelling?
I’ll admit, I can be pretty quick to let my blood pressure rise when I get angry. Lately, though, I’ve been trying something new. Instead of reverting to anger and frustration, I’m acknowledging that whatever the situation is, is not ideal and moving on with it. I’m seeing it with a new perspective.
When I get sent home early from work because we’re short on hours? It’s more time to focus on pursuing my passion.
When my GPS gets thrown off and steers me in the wrong direction? It’s opportunity to uncover new areas I would not have found otherwise.
When the paychecks don’t stretch as far? It’s a chance to make my money work harder for me.
When the rejection letters and emails come my way? It’s fuel to my fire.
Acknowledge it. Deal with it. Move on. Find the positive. Sounds pretty simple, but aren’t we all looking for simplicity in life?
How do you deal with an unexpected occurrence? Are you calm or do you have a bad temper (like me)?
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Um, unfortunately I tend to freak out just a bit depending on what the “change” is. I need to work on that. When I couldn’t find my wetsuit for my last race and realized I had left it in Germany: freaking out ensued. I was nasty to my husband who had nothing to do with it. I apologized to him and acknowledged that I have to work on dealing with a change in plans like a grown up!
HAHAHA! Yes, I’m fairly certain my friends and I resemble Alex everytime we’re in close proximity to a Target on our trips south of the border. We’re also that excited in DSW Shoes, and in Trader Joe’s and in Nordstrom Rack!
I think that I should be an ad for Target… “the most wonderful place in the wooooorld!”
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I think that your new perspective is spot on- trying to find the best in things, even when that can be hard to see at the moment. I’m a huge fan of the fact that everything happens for a reason and even if that means Jill gets her knickers in a twist over 1431, then so be it. The Spot closes in 10 minutes? Find out that Sweet Tea Vodka can be found at other places. There is no Target in Canada…?
Well, that just downright sucks. Worth getting my knickers in a twist.
Rejection letters and emails? I am way too familiar with those lately! But you are right, just more fuel to my fire. The rejections can’t go on forever. And that job/opporunity just wasn’t the right one anyways. Their loss!
When I was in Chicago a few weekends ago, I felt like a little kid. Everything was so exciting and I just wanted to run around the entire city seeing all of the new things. I definitely relate to your friends’ enthusiasm!
I love airports too!!! I actually like being stuck in one for hours (as long as there are coffeeshops/magazines nearby). The BEST people watching. And the lack of Targets might be the biggest thing holding me back from jumping border…
ohhh tis life. I love this perspective. I think I needed in a refresher in how to look at the glass half full. I usually have a temper, not pretty. I am learning though that life is just too short to sweat the small stuff. ya know?
ive done it again.
ive opened up this post twice.
one so i can read it.
and one so i can comment as i read it
and try not to lose my place.
or my train of thought.
arent you excited?
I, too, love airports.
I know this is kind of funny, with all my travel woah’s and endless hours spent delayed in various cities across the country – but it’s true. I love them. LOVE THEM.
Have you ever played Whoonu? Its a fabulous game, and if you haven’t you should. Find it. now.
anyway- when we play whoonu, you should know, that airports are ALWAYS #1. Unless Libraries are also on the list. Then it depends on my mood; libraries and airports are kind of interchangable. I would say that museums are up there, too, but the truth is, there are like bored, screaming children in museums that i want to throw things at….softly, of course.
not to say that there arent children in airports i want to throw things at. did i ever tell you about the time i was in the atlanta airport, on pain meds, no less, for 12 hours and spent one of those hours playing nerf football toss with a six year old named Jack?
anyway….
I like airports.
One time, on my way home from Vegas, I was delayed 3 hours, and during that 3 hours, i had a long phone conversation with my roommate, Kyle, who very much reminds me of your friend, Andrew, even though i’ve never actually met Andrew. Regardless….
during our phone conversation, I described all the different people I saw waiting in the terminal – including but not limited to, A man wearing a mesh shirt (yes, mesh!) tight (but not skinny) acid washed jeans, and cowboy boots. this man may or may not have also been well over the age of 60. ill let that image sink in for a minute. ahem.
I went on and on with the descriptions, making up stories for each of the occupants of the chairs I was facing, as my back was against a wall near an electrical plug, of course, as my phone needed battery, afterall.
The mother with 5 little ones running about.
A popped collar frat-type boy holding a jack russel puppy.
two teenage girls who were clearly MUCH TOO COOL for the airport in their Juicy track suits.
and so many more.
many MANY hours later, I arrived at the airport, walked to baggage claim to find Kyle giggling in the corner.
Guess who was on the plane? ALL OF THEM. Guess who kyle saw walking into baggage claim. ALL OF THEM.
he said it was surreal. he also said he thought i was lying about the mesh – but I’m happy to report that his eye-witness encounter at baggage claim proved my honesty. ahem.
and i LOVE your new perspective. I’m trying to live it every day. I am SO PROUD OF YOU. xo
also, if “boys in sweaters” was a whoonu card. well, we all know where THAT would be.
hey. this is comment is pretty short.
ADORE this post. That is all.
I’m not super quick to anger, but I’m VERY quick to pity myself. It’s definitely something I need to work on every single day.
First- I just found your blog, and I LOVE it
Second- Target is my mothership, a Target needs to be within 25 miles of me, in order for me to survive!
Third- I tend to be hot-headed, my family jokes that I inherited my fathers red hair, and the temper to go with it. Sometimes I take a ‘breather’ and assess the situation..my worst tempers come out when I’m driving..
It’s hard to find a balance between surpressing anger, and just being too passive of everything-and then shouting every chance you get? Ya know? But you are right, when something comes your way that you weren’t expecting, try to see the positive and make lemonade out of lemons
I’m not a big fan of change and I tend to freak out if I’m not super planned. I love a good plan and sticking to it. My BF is way more go with the flow though and he’s trying his best to rub off on me.
Fact: Even though I live in MN (where Target is headquartered), I still experience a certain amount of exuberance when I set foot in the store. It’s just how I roll.
I LOVE this. I really need to do some things that are exciting and don’t include spending tons of money. I love the look on Alex’s face – she is so excited!
You’re so right that we often forget to feel that simple excitement over something new, and part of that is learning to see disappointments and aggravations in a positive light (that’s something I need to work on!). There’s nothing more beautiful than finding happiness in everyday things, so that your life is more happy and joyful than anything else. That makes a complete life. Incredibly well-written, as always
Also, I have to say that I react the same way when I go to Target – like a crazy woman!! Love it!
Target excites me too!
And I always try to find something silly and simple to get excited about each day. The simple things and joy in them really make the day brighter.
Great post. I need to work on this as well. Also, it was great to see you tonight!
Such a beautiful post. These are things I have been meditating a lot on lately too. Living abroad for two years now, things that were once new and exciting have become normal. Frustrations and anxieties have built up, to the point that sometimes I miss all the beauty around me. And as my time living here winds down, I look forward to the future and realize that I will be living in America again with new eyes. After two years without Target (!), Starbucks, or the million other things that used to be normal but now are so special, I cannot wait to re-discover my own home. And try to maintain the simplicity of life that I have discovered, appreciated, and resented (simultaneously!) over here.
adorable pic!
yes, my love, i too, have a horrible temper. unfortunately i inherited my mothers irish one. ugh.
when something doesnt go my way, or turn out the way i planned, i pout, i yell, i am just a BITCH. (that’s putting it point blank, now isnt it?~oh well….i am honest, what can i say??)
i love your new way of looking at life and taking things in stride. life really is too short. who knows when our last day on this earth will be, so instead of getting our panties in a bunch out of stuff that we cant control anyway, we should just make lemonade out of lemons. and then add some vodka. and then drink till we fall down drunk. hahahaha. ok, just kidding but you see what i am saying.
i am really going to try this week to work towards your new way of thinking and see how it goes.
thanks for making me smile on a sunday morning! xo