Future Think

Future Think

I’m sitting in the boarding lounge and it’s surprisingly uncrowded. The sun is streaming in through the big airport windows, and I’m watching the action outside when I hear the lone guy a row over start a telephone call.

I know this because his phone is on speaker mode, and I can hear both sides of the conversation.

I am prepared to be annoyed.

It drives me “cuckoo bananas,” as my little Noah says, when people do this in public places - intruding their conversations, games, or entertainment on everyone around them.

Rude, rude, rude.

But something is different about this conversation I can’t help but overhear. There is such joy in their voices, such animation, such love. I hear children come on the other end of the phone, and the joy is amplified even more.

I don’t know who these people are, but suddenly, I like them. Even the man without earbuds. And I find myself wishing for an energetic, uplifting call like that for myself.

When they say goodbye, I feel happy. I feel mudita - joy in someone else’s joy.

I can’t stop smiling.

I wonder if I should tell this man how his conversation made me feel.

Nah, that would be weird.

Should I tell him I’m glad he didn’t put in earbuds?

Nah, that would be silly.

Should I tell him I just know he made those people feel so special by the level of excitement in his voice?

Nah, he’d think I was cuckoo bananas.

But I know me, and I know I’m going to do it - cuckoo bananas or not.

Why? Because I future think.

I think about my after-feeling, which lasts a lot longer than my before-feeling - the little fright of doing it. I imagine how he might feel. Of course, I could be wrong, but I’m an optimist, so I assume he will be happy. I imagine the lost opportunity if I don’t tell him.

I future-think my after-feeling, and it helps me find the courage to approach this stranger.

So, I traipse over to him and say, “Excuse me, I just wanted to tell you…” I leave out the part about the earbuds.

I tell him how rare and beautiful it is to hear that level of happiness in a phone call, and how much joy I - and I’m sure they - got from it.

He is so happy.

The biggest smile.

So grateful I told him.

In fact, he says, “Thank you for telling me,” three times during our short conversation.

He says it made his day.

It made my day, too.

If you think something nice, say something nice. It doesn’t help the other person if you keep it tucked away inside.

So, what could you future-think your way into this week?

Can you get past your present, short-lived feeling and after-think your way to the next level?

As I’m boarding the small prop plane, I see a young baggage handler - is that the correct title? While he is waiting, he is practicing golf swings in thin air on the sunny tarmac.

As I walk by, I say, “That’s awesome,” because I think it is.

He says happily, “I’m going golfing later!”

He smiles. I smile.

Another welcome moment of human connection in this often-disconnected world - and it took only a pittance of time.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with a tiny airplane tip I didn’t learn until many decades of flying had passed. Perhaps you already know this, but in case, like me, you are late to the party…

Typically, both the aisle and window seat armrests have a seemingly hidden button that allows them to be raised and moved out of the way. I find this super handy.

Feel for the button under the armrest, toward the back, under where your elbow would be - underwear?? lol - or ask your friendly flight attendant!

I hope you are having the most delightful week, and I welcome your stories and ideas, too!

Steph : )

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