Man, talk about having thoughts always flowing through my mind. Sometimes I know I just need to let things go. I think I tend to hold on to things too long, situations are often outside of our control, and my Type A personality often struggles with this. Talking about things can help, if I am speaking to the right person. You know you have some people that you confide in, and they just pump you up, and not in a good way, those kind of more negative folks. While I have done my best to remove many of those people from my life, you cannot get rid of all negativity. Then you have the people who will support you, and give you positive ways to move forward. I have made many strides in my life to try and keep those people around me, and also to become one of those people myself.
I believe in the power of positive thinking, and what it can actually do for us. If we constantly stay in a negative place, then we surround ourselves with bad energy. I just feel like I cannot take the negativity anymore. I think that is part of the reason for starting this, so I can work to let things out, that are floating around in my head. But also, and more importantly to push the positive moments out there.
I look around the world right now, and realize how challenging it is to be positive with a world full of negativity. But I look for those moments, the moments where you can find a positive space. For instance, I recently got back from a trip to Jamaica, and I ended up getting delayed on my flight home. Delayed on the airplane, stuck in the air circling the Miami Airport (I knew better then to fly into Miami), finally landing somewhere else for fuel, before taking off again. I did everything in my power to just let it go, even though there were many upset folks around me. It wasn’t until we landed and got stuck in this circle of no’s that my negativity began to increase. Here I am running to catch my flight (I still had a few minutes), but every corner I turned I was told NO.
The first NO came from a TSA agent. So if you have not traveled internationally recently they currently make you fill out a form, that they then never look at or use. They still require you to go to the computer and fill the information out. I followed the instructions regarding where to go, but it took me to the other side of the computers, and to the line to go back through customs. So I asked, since I have the paperwork filled out (again they ask the same questions on the paper form), and I have my passport can I just go through, NO. I don’t understand why, it is the same thing, because you have to do it this way, but I am trying to make my flight after being delayed, NO (mind you the line was long). After going at it for a couple of minutes she finally let me through ahead of others (airport needs better instructions on how to get to the computers if you HAVE to use them). This might have been all fine and dandy, but then what happens, I hear another agent say that we can use either the paper or computer form, WOW. It really ended up making no difference, since we got held up trying to get our bags.
So I have been to Jamaica ten times now, and this is the first time my bags were held up 1 1/2 hours. Now I understand why they were held up (though not for that long) by customs, what I don’t understand is the lack of communication by American Airlines. I walked over to their information desk once, and was told they could NOT help me change my flight (I was now going to miss because of the delay in luggage). The second time I walked over I was a little irate, as now, not only am I missing my flight, but the next one as well. And when I told them we still did not have our bags, it seemed no one from the airline was even aware of this. When I said the words, like four people jumped into action calling people, trying to figure out why (and no one ever made any kind of announcement, I went back informing the others on my flight what was going on). My positive thinking was not working, or so I thought. One gentleman whose attention I caught ended up actually changing my flight at the information desk, and getting me on a direct flight to my destination city, instead of having one more stop over. Oddly enough, even though the flight was like two hours away, I barely made it. After finally getting my bag, I was trying to wait for someone else who was very upset and confused (a Jamaican woman who had never traveled before). Unfortunately, I was unable to help her, I had to go, or I was going to miss my flight.
Once I made it to the other side, the gentleman at the ticket counter who needed to re-book me was amazing as was the guy at the place I grabbed food. I walked up, and got the most positive man, he was smiling and laughing, and yet dealing with a line of upset passengers (everyone from my flight missed their connection). I shared in his sentiment and positivity, and thanked him for having such a great attitude. I proceeded to head through security for my re-check, and then off for food. Luckily there was a place to eat right by my gate (at this point I was hangry, yes not hungry, but hangry), and open seats. I was seated, and once again had the most amazing service. Marc from Corona Beach House was nothing but positive, and amazing. He refilled my water bottle (even put ice in it), laughed, joked, and literally saved my whole experience. I truly believe that had I been a completely negative person, this might not have occurred. I might not have gotten the cool counter guy, and the awesome server. Mind you, it was easier to be positive once I was re-booked onto my flight. And side note, I am a window gal, and they even got me in a window seat.
I guess my point and the moral to all of this, is we have got to let it go. Some people make this challenging, and want to make your life more difficult, but if you can make it past those folks, without getting too frustrated with others, you stand a good chance of having good things happen to you. The world is not perfect, people definitely are not either, but you have the capability to control how you react to, and interact with those people.
At the end of the day, either negativity or positivity will win out. Do not be one of the people who let the negative seep in, your body, mind and soul will feel better ending on a positive note. I know it is hard, but try it. I challenge you, try to take something in your life that is negative, and find a positive in it. I would love to hear examples of how you have done this. This blog might be my words, and experiences, but I love to hear how others overcome.
Thank you as always for your time, I appreciate your willingness to read.
PS- even this site thinks positivity is not a real word, it keeps underlying it like it is spelled wrong….
Be Your Authentic You 