Regular readers of this blog have heard me repeat a particular message for quite some time now: you can have a great experience or a great story, but probably not both at the same time.
This philosophy of mine was born out of my frequent travels, and the discovery that vacations and trips where things go wrong often make the funniest stories… in hindsight, I mean. After you’ve stopped stressing.
I’m thinking about this today because I had a nightmare travel experience great story on Thursday. Short version: I spent 8 hours making would should have been 2 hour and 23 minute journey. The best part came at the end: when I got in my rental car after midnight, I automatically drove to the hotel I normally stay at, rather than the one I had booked for this trip.
The silver lining this time was significant: I saw this one coming. It was something about the way I hit all 14 red lights between my house and the tollway. I said to myself right then and there, “Get comfy, Jason, this is going to take awhile…” and I was able to actually enjoy the journey. When the flight got delayed, when spaghetti sauce spattered on my shirt, and when I discovered I had somehow lost my socks, I wasn’t troubled in the slightest. I laughed at myself the whole time.
Best of all, when one little thing went well, I had the presence of mind to appreciate it. Had this been a normal trip, I think I would have been annoyed at being bumped to first class on a 47 minute flight. “Seriously? First class for a 47 minute flight? What a waste of an upgrade.” But this time, I was able to say a genuine “Thank you” to the gate agent.
And I gotta tell you, it felt good to know that I could express kindness in the midst of a trip where nothing was coming easy. It didn’t help me any, but it did keep me feeling good for remaining 3 hours of my great story!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Agree: I had a friend (RIP) Mary who took her youngsters to the Dells with her husband for a week-long trip for great memories for the kids- they did all the good parent things that parents do for great memories for their kids- the Paul Bunyon Breakfast- the Tommy Bartlet water show etc, etc, The long ride home- lets say they were tired… what was the great story? they pulled into their home driveway, and asked their 2 kids, what their favorite part of the vacation was? (they had such great anticipation- having planned so well, and were very tired, they needed a vacation!)….the answer, simultaneous from both angels boy and girl screamed out: ” the pop machine at the gas station”…..ah out of the mouth of babes…..
Jason, I’m so glad you brought this lesson out in the open. What in the world would you tell your grandkids if everything went as planned?
“Grandpa you’re boring!”
Thomas—I’d have to talk about the time a surprising amount of dust built up atop the cabinets. (yawn)