Traveling thoughts

Last week I was in New York City for a meeting of the National Leaders Council. I’m often asked if I miss New York, and the answer is No.  I won’t enumerate why, since some New Yorkers read this blog.  I’ll just say that I’m very glad I grew up there, and I’m very glad I live here.  My blood pressure lowers when the arch comes in to view through the airplane window.

Which reminds me.  On my flight out I had a Very Angering Airline Experience, the kind where you end up waiting around a long time, wanting to strangle an airline employee (or two).  Insert your experience here.  I passed the time examining my own anger and feelings of vengeance, and accepting that I was incapable of affirming the worth and dignity of airline employees, no matter how much I preach against anger and vengeance.  Unlike with the deer from this summer (see the July archives), I didn’t actually want them dead.  But I didn’t particularly care whether they lived, either.  I did a lot of soul-searching, without much result.  Then I resumed my trip.  Now the ordeal is over; I’m back home; the anger and vengeance have evaporated.  I probably could reignite them by reliving the experience, so I won’t.  But what have I learned?  Perhaps, again, that time may not heal all wounds, but it sure helps with the petty, irrational ones.  And that even if sometimes we lose sight of the worth and dignity of people, if we go on with our lives and stop salting our own wounds by dwelling on them, we can regain our perspective and our values.