Paris Airport Security. Flew in from Rome earlier that morning. June 27, 2023.
Everything was going well that day.
Until I passed through the metal detector in security.
My flight back to the US was boarding in 10 minutes.
You wouldn’t believe what was happening.
I was stalled in security. There was a huge backup.
After our bags went through the x-ray machine, the French security guards were hand-checking our bags. They were extracting any liquids and putting them into their own ziploc bags.
I got my small backpack. But they set aside my big backpack and another bin with my laptop, belt, and my Timex.
And they weren’t moving fast, either.
I politely told one of the workers that my flight was boarding, tapping my wrist like I had my watch on.
She understood me and thankfully moved my bags a few spaces forward.
But there was still a bag queue.
There was a line of ten impatient people standing in front of me giving bad looks to the two French airport workers.
They were digging through our bags, separating out liquids, but doing so like they were in slow motion.
No rush, at all.
Casually browsing through our belongings.
I spoke in broken English with a French guy to the right of me. He even told me that he’s never seen something so silly.
You could feel the impatience in the air.
I also met an American on my left who lives near San Francisco.
“This is ridiculous,” he blurted out.
Negativity is contagious though, so I stepped back and thought to myself: “this is the only time something like this might ever happen. In Paris. Let’s soak it in. This’ll make a great story afterwards.”
Finally, they get to my bags.
They checked my big backpack. They told me my sunscreen was too big.
They throw out the sunscreen.
Then the lady carries my bag and walks to the front of security to pass it through the x-ray scanner again.
Bruh.
Once it comes through, she takes my toothpaste out of my toiletry bag and puts it into a new zip lock bag.
She also swipes my other bin of belongings real quick and finally gives me my belongings.
At this point, I dash all the way to the gate, which happens to the furthest one from security.
Nobody is there. No plane, no people in line.
It’s empty.
Did I miss the flight?
I then run into a guy on the same flight: he tells me there’s a gate change.
So then I ran back across the airport. My shins are burning from the bags I have on my back and chest.
I then found what was looking for: hoards of people standing, ready to board.
But as it turns out, our flight from Paris to San Francisco was delayed by an hour.
I sigh in relief and take a seat.
There’s more to this travel day, but that’s where the story ends today.
The Lesson from Security Line
The lesson I wanted to share comes from when I was standing in line for security.
The American guy next to me to was one step ahead of me and left security just before I did.
Right as he snatches up his bags, he said, “get a different job, lady.”
Now, I don’t think the lady actually heard or understood him. I’m pretty sure she was full-on French.
I can see how the guy’s comments were reasonable.
Hell, we were so lucky the flight was delayed.
But this is an example of being reactive.
He let his emotions get the best of him.
The reality is, the ladies who were creating a shitstorm at security probably weren’t in charge. Maybe there was a terrorist threat we didn’t know about.
These ladies are probably working a job to help support their families. And maybe the job for that day was carefully looking through people’s bags for whatever reason.
The reason doesn’t matter.
The reaction does matter.
I could’ve said the same things as the American guy. Besides a polite request that I was in a rush, I didn’t say more.
Not only is negativity contagious, but it’s not helpful. It sure doesn’t help the workers, who probably know that this crazy protocol their boss put them on is making for some angry travelers.
I was thinking: “damn bro, she’s just doing her job. Obviously, the boss in charge is an idiot, but no need to react like that.”
This is one scenario where I experienced the true power of meditation.
Now you might be thinking meditation is one of those “woo-woo” health trends.
As I look back, meditation is a habit that, like for Michael Phelps, Hugh Jackman, Jerry Seinfeld, and many other people, has changed my life.
Even the billionaire and investor Ray Dalio once said:
“Meditation has probably been the single most important reason for whatever success I’ve had.”
Hear mear out for a second.
Meditation makes you a better, happier person. It impacts you on small yet significant interactions like this.
It’s what helped me realize that I was pissed off at security, but saying so wasn’t going to help the situation.
It’s what helped me stay present and strangely enjoy the situation.
While my American neighbor reacted to the situation and expressed anger.
I’m not saying to not express yourself. I was feeling the same way. But I had a bit more space to pick a response instead of feeling powerless and reacting.
I didn’t meditate much on my travels, but I practiced mindfulness meditation on and off since early 2021.
Meditation doesn’t alter your state, it alters your traits.
How many times do you react and let your emotions spin you out of control, especially with family?
Haw many times have you flipped someone off for cutting you off on the road when you know on some level that they didn’t do it on purpose?
Instead of bashing negativity, I tried to enjoy the chaos of being in that Paris Airport. Because when I look back, although I wanted to get on that plane and out of that situation, I wish I’d be there all over again.
Meditation is the practice of observing your thoughts and understanding that we don’t have to identify with them.
Just because one bad thing happens in your day, doesn’t mean that your day is ruined. That choice is up to you.
I wish I discovered meditation when I was an athlete. It would’ve helped me have a shorter memory and be more present and focused in hockey and life.
As a meditator, I’m more present, less reactive, less anxious, less stressed, more content with uncertainty.
You’ve probably heard the common advice: “live in the moment.”
But until I meditated, I realized that I’d never truly been present for most of my life. Always thinking about the past or future in some way.
I’ve never considered myself anxious. I was definitely an overthinker. But after meditating, I realized I used to run on much higher baseline anxiety.
Worry, stress, fear, and other thoughts that were controlling me.
I’m plain out happier from meditation.
I can’t overstate the impact that it’s made on my life.
But like most people, I was highly skeptical and viewed it as a waste of time.
Until I listened to neuroscientist Sam Harris on this podcast:
I learned how to meditate with his app, “Waking Up.”
If you want to easily learn how, The Introductory Course has a 5-10 minute meditation for 30 days and teaches you the fundamentals.
There’s also a book called 10% Happier that I’ve heard good things about.
You should highly consider adding this to your daily practice, especially if you’re anxious, stressed, reactive, or are a human being.
Doctors probably won’t recommend this to you for anxiety or depression because it’s less profitable.
But like a fat person eating one salad, one meditation will not make them leaner. I challenge you to try meditating for one month, just 5-10 minutes each day, using that app.
It will change you life.
I don’t say that lightly.
Remember, always look for the positive. There is an opportunity in every situation. And always ask yourself, “is what I’m doing or thinking useful?”
- BB
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