September 23rd, 2011
I made a post the other day on Facebook, which prompted a number of people to ask me what went through my head. As the “queen of” (lol) looking AT my thoughts, I thought I’d share what transpired between me and my brain during the course of just ten minutes.
To give it context, here’s my Facebook post:
OMG! My flight is boarding at the farthest gate. I go to the Delta club to get hot water & discover I don’t have my wallet! I run all the way back to my car, find my wallet, run back to the club, fill my thermos & make it to the gate just as they were closing the door! Thanks to the Delta Club women who let me keep my luggage at the club, to those who let me go b4 them at security, & to P90X cause the run was effortless!
So. what was I thinking?
My Brain: I have looked everywhere. I do not have my wallet. Oh my God!, Where’s my wallet! I don’t have my wallet! I need my wallet! I have no way to pay for my expenses!
Me: How can I manage without my wallet?
My Brain: My license is required to get the rental car.
Me: I wonder when the next flight is.
My Brain: Ask!
Me to ladies: When is the next flight?
The ladies: Not till tonight – 5:50pm.
My Brain: It’s a 3-hour flight. I have dinner with the meeting host and his wife.
Me: I could cancel the dinner. (That didn’t feel right.) I want to go to the dinner. I wonder where my wallet is.
My Brain: I used it to use the new parking lot feature. It’s a new process. I don’t remember putting it back in my purse. I remember putting it in my lap. The last times I put things in my lap they fell on the ground or under the seat. On the ground! Someone could take it. What am I gonna do without my wallet?
Me: (Calmly and lovingly) Everything always works out fine.
My Brain: Yes! That time when I dropped my purse in the parking structure someone turned it in to the Delta counter and they tracked me down and got me my purse just in time for the flight. That was amazing! And then there were all the times the plane was delayed – something good always happened. I met a great contact. I got most of my book written because of flight delays!
Me to the ladies: Is the flight on time?
The ladies: It’s boarding! You have to go back to the parking structure? You’re NEVER gonna make it.
Me: How can I get there and back the quickest?
My Brain: Without the briefcase I can run up and down the escalator to the tram and go quickly thru security.
Me to the ladies: May I put the briefcase in the closet? I can go thru security quickly.
The ladies: No we can’t do that. It’s not our policy.
Me to the ladies: I know. I am asking you to trust me. How much time do I have?
The ladies: Ten minutes until the door closes.
Me to the ladies: Let’s give it a shot! I put the briefcase in the closet and ran out the door. I arrived at the tram just as the doors were closing.
Me: I am thankful I have the gumption to run thru the closing doors. I am thankful I can run and react quickly. I am thankful I left my briefcase in the closet. I am thankful I had the ability to help the Delta ladies go from “You’re never gonna make it!” to “Let’s give it a try!” and I am thankful they let me put the briefcase in the closet.
My Brain: Another adventure at the airport! Remember the time when I looked at my boarding pass wrong and I thought the departure time was the boarding time and had only fifteen minutes to get from the parking structure to the plane and I made the flight! And there was the time I missed the flight and I sat at the gate and the plane pulled back in for a technical difficulty and they let me on the plane!
My Brain: When I stand here, I am first out of the tram and first down the escalator.
Me: I am thankful I know how to position myself so I am first out of the tram and down the escalator. I am thankful I chose these shoes for today! I am thankful that someone is already standing at the elevator and they already pressed the down button. I am thankful that my floor is first.
My Brain: I parked by the divider. If my wallet fell, no one else would have seen it. There’s no wallet on the ground. If it’s not in the car, go to Delta baggage check in first. That’s right off the elevator. That’s the easiest place for someone to turn it in.
Me: I am thankful I assumed someone would find it and turn it in. In the old days, I would have assumed someone would steal it!
My Brain: Check around the seat. No wallet. Check the console. That’s where I put everything!
Me and My Brain: Yeah! Wallet found!
My Brain: Remember to lock the car! Remember this new parking process! Remember to put my credit card back in my wallet and my wallet back in my purse.
Me: I like the new process. No ticket to concern myself with. Here we go!
My Brain: Do we have enough time? Oh right – Don’t concern myself with time. Time expands when I stay present.
Me: Yes! Let’s glide through this! Quickly, smoothly, gracefully!
My Brain: Yes that has always worked in the past.
Me: I am thankful, the Monday morning priority line to security has shortened. I wonder how I can get thru security quickly.
My Brain: Ask folks if I can go to the front. People always want to help when I ask.
Me to man at the very front : May I go in front of you?
Man: Sure.
Me to man: Thank you!
My Brain: Wow! I didn’t even have to tell him I was late. He just trusted me.
Me: I am thankful that I am trust worthy.I get thru security quickly. I run up the escalator. The tram is right there! I am thankful I left my briefcase in the closet. I am thankful I had the ability to help the Delta ladies go from “You’re never gonna make it!” to “Let’s give it a try!” and I am thankful they let me put the briefcase in the closet.
Me: I reflect on the significance of vision and purpose, focusing on what I want, not what I don’t want.
My Brain: What if I miss the flight?!
Me: Everything always turns out all right.
My Brain: Remember the time when my parents and I missed the flight to get to Colorado for my wedding rehearsal dinner. We spent the day at the airport having a nice dinner, nice conversation. It was relaxing and a wonderful day. They routed us through Indianapolis! Maybe there’s a flight to Fort Lauderdale.
Me: (I’m smiling) Another adventure. Another story!
My Brain: When I stand here, I am first out of the tram and closest to the club. The reason I went to the club was to get hot water for the thermos. If I hadn’t gone to the club, I wouldn’t have known I didn’t have my wallet.
I enter the club.
The ladies: You made it! I can’t believe it. You don’t have time. Get to the gate!
My Brain: It only takes a second to get hot water. The hot water on the plane tastes like chemicals. They have bottled water on the plane. That’s at the back of the club.
I get the hot water. I thank the ladies! We run out the door and down the escalator. I hear the announcement: Last call for the flight!
My Brain: A78 is the very last gate! I might not make it! It’s not possible! These shoes are not working! I want to walk. If I walk, I won’t make it. Oh well I did my best.
Me: That doesn’t feel right. Those are victim thoughts!
My Brain: Wait! This is that big moment when most people decide to give up. That happens in sports, that point of decision. It’s a shame, most people give up right before they succeed.
Me: Let’s see how we can succeed.
We round the corner and can see the gate. The agent asks: Mary Lore? I say yes!
Me and My Brain on the jetway: We did it!
My brain: I’m thirsty. We didn’t get water at the club.
Me to the flight attendant: Do you have any extra of those little water bottles? I am so thirsty.
Flight attendant: Here, take two!
I take my aisle exit row seat. I slide my briefcase under the empty seat next to me.
Me: I am thankful for the seat, for the empty seat next to me, for the water, for everyone and everything that contributed to me making the flight.
I look at my phone. All that happened in 10 minutes. I am amazed! I celebrate all that I accomplished in ten minutes.
I notice I am not out of breath! I celebrate my physical fitness. Way to go P90X!
I realize that I glided easily and effortlessly, gracefully and joyfully, the entire time. I acknowledge how far I’ve come.
I am thankful for all I am, all I have, all of my blessings.
My brain stores this in its Anything is Possible, Being Fully Present and Airport Stories compartments.
I sit back and enjoy the flight.
And that’s what I was thinking. 