Airports used to be a favorite place of mine. It meant that new work, new clients were on the horizon. Traveling has always been a great event for me; I love it.

The latest in the list of conferences proved no different - exciting time, new work, reconnecting - all good stuff. But airports are no longer a favorite place. Maybe it is because they are no longer mystical, no longer exciting. Most likely. But it is probably also that I notice a lot of rudeness that takes place, a lot of pretentiousness and given that airports are such a great hub of differing folks, it just really bothers me when these attitudes, this behavior gets in the way of the reasons for my, normally, being excited to be there.

I watched a man verbally push around other waiting passengers. I saw a business woman, practically claw her way through the airport as she proceeded to her gate. I saw groups of travelers congregate in areas, pathways, not meant for congregation - completely unaware or uncaring that they hindered the ability for others to get to their destinations.

Maybe we have become more selfish, more me-centered, over the last several years. Perhaps, with all the social media and so-called friends we now have, there is no need to win friends and influence people. It just might be that people are more.

Whatever the reason, my level of frustration in my last travel escapade was elevated. I wasn't really sure how to battle it, so I just smiled and said, "Excuse me." Often. It's kind of like when you raise your children to be better people by saying, "At some point, one of you needs to be the bigger, better person, be the peacemaker." So, I have learned to take my own motherly advice. Most of the time.

by rayannethorn