When the Going Gets Bumpy

On Tuesday afternoon, I was flying in a small Regional Jet, on the first of my two legs to get back home after leading a seminar.

The first leg was from Raleigh-Durham to Washington DC.  It’s only 40 minutes in the air.

About 20 minutes into the flight, we hit turbulence.

Now, I’ve been flying almost every week for 18 years, so I’m used to choppy air and some bumps.

Frankly, this was about the choppiest and bumpiest flight I’ve ever been on. 

The plane dropped elevation, and I could feel my stomach rise up like I was on a “free fall” ride at an amusement park.

The wings rotated close to 45 degrees in each direction.  I was concerned we’d flip upside down.

People were praying, screaming, and holding onto their armrests for dear life. 

It was, to put it mildly, nerve-wracking.

In the row behind me, a 10 year old boy was sitting with his father.

I noticed him as I was looking out the window, trying to calm my insides by looking at the horizon.

I saw he had a big smile on his face.

I overheard him as he called out to his Dad, 

“Whee! I love roller coasters.”

His enthusiasm and joy calmed me down immediately.

Emotions are contagious.

It’s easy to be positive when things are going well. But how do you show up in the face of turbulence?

How do you show up for others when things get bumpy? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below.



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