Gradually becoming a pro at travel

I am, once again, sitting in an airport. 

 

But not only sitting, I am also sipping my delicious pumpkin Caribou coffee–why wouldn’t I want joy in a cup before a flight? Jack thinks my obsession with Caribou doesn’t have any ground to stand on, but he doesn’t understand the memories that make each coffee taste like comfort. 

 

I feel very fortunate that I have been able to travel so frequently this summer (heck, these past few years). I think I would consider myself—not an expert per se—but very familiar with traveling. 

 

That’s saying a lot, considering I used to experience sharp anxiety each time I went far from home. So the fact that I don’t worry the way I used to is genuinely meaningful to me.  

 

I am no longer unable to sleep the night before, nor do I insist on being at the airport an unnecessarily large number of hours before a local flight. While my dreams are still anxiety-filled, I am able to sleep. And you won’t see me at the airport until an hour or hour and a half before my scheduled departure. 

 

But I have learned some things that I will pass on in hopes it will inspire some thought or ease some minds for those of you who also travel. 

 

First, I promise you it’s never as serious as it seems. Think you’re going to be late? Chances are, you’re probably good. Think you’ve forgotten something? There’s probably a store nearby where you can get whatever you need. That TSA line making you antsy? It’s always sunny on the other side. 

 

Second, people are absolutely in their own little world and could care less about you–unless they’re airport staff, in which case they’re usually very kind and willing to help. People don’t realize that when they walk slowly in the airport it can be considered annoying to those trying to traverse efficiently through the airport. The person resting their arm on your armrest probably doesn’t have a single thought in their head concerning your comfort or their taking up space. And the people blasting TikToks or videos through their phone on full volume have absolutely no regard or care for you or anyone around them. 

 

For me, I’m always thinking about what other people might think of me or how they might view me. In highly populated areas like an airport, I’m always thinking about my walking pace, whether I’m incurring on someone else’s space on the tram, if my desire to be somewhere in a fast time is inconveniencing someone else. 

 

I have learned that, actually, no one is watching me. Other people don’t care what I look like or how fast I am walking. At least, no one ever seems to express any reactions. 

 

Third, enjoy the characters. You can meet so many interesting and different people at the airport, on the plane, or traveling in general. Instead of losing patience with someone who might be annoying, I try to enjoy meeting someone who exhibits a lot of character or individuality. I take the opportunity to ask what their life is like, why they’re traveling. Alongside all the apparently indifferent people, I have found there are some who remind me there are still good people, and those folks help make my day and bring light to the world. 

Along with all that, eavesdropping at the airport is my favorite thing ever. It’s fun to learn about why people are traveling, what they care about, how they decide to travel. It’s also entertaining and thought-provoking.  

 

The reason I am traveling this time is to visit Jack’s father in Maryland. We left Saturday morning, showed up an hour before boarding, and parted ways. Jack to his Capital One lounge and me to Caribou (don’t worry, he always brings me snacks). 

 

But I was proud of myself to find that I was not stressed. I was comfortable with the travel and excited for the adventures ahead. I’m sure my anxiety appreciated the break as well. 

 

My Determination: “We like companionship, see, but we can’t stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again.” - John Krakauer, Into the Wild