One Person’s Kindness Lighted an Airport Terminal
Imagine all the stress and anxiety to passengers when their plane taxi’s back to the terminal instead of taking off on time. Then they hear the announcement that they must deplane due to mechanical failure and all connecting flights and arrival times will be changed.
Recently this did happen to me. My seat-mate had just introduced herself and we chatted long enough for me to admit I was hard of hearing and my hearing aids were broken. She saw I couldn’t hear the announcement and from that point on she became my guardian angel.
She helped me with my carry-on, guided me to a seat near the ticket counter where new boarding passes were being distributed for the incoming plane. All I had to do was answer to my name and voila I was all set. Then she seated me near her while she sent messages on her laptop and I cell phoned my daughters the new flight numbers and arrival time. I mixed up the times so she straightened that out for me.
Next she brought me the papers to receive the $50 discount on my next Delta flight. Then she helped me to my seat in the new plane and also took charge of my carry-on. She maintained her watch over me while we boarded, and then again after a layover until I was seated on the last leg of our flight.
While this was taking place many of the other passengers were engrossed in watching her kindness toward me. The expressions on their faces varied from mild enjoyment to the radiance of joy. The signs of stress and anxiety were missing and so was ill-temper.
The attention on my benefactor’s kindness lighted the whole terminal area so that waiting passengers and airport employees were lifted by this one person.
It is with gratitude I write this for my readers; to share the wonderful gift we all received that day.
I also see the similarity of this story with the effect you receive with good coaching. A coach listens for your need, hears with empathy to help you, stays with you as you learn, and holds you accountable to grow until your need is met. Everyone around you, in your close and distant circles, is affected and can be uplifted.
