Walking into an airport, I automatically feel at home. Well, once I get through the TSA line. The places that filter and disperse millions of people daily, somehow comfort me. As a child, when I traveled throughout Europe, my family and I experienced countless airports, both foreign and domestic. There are always destinations to fly to, flight attendants with different personalities, and strange travelers to encounter. I’m able to fly standby and that means I can plop down in leftover seats on any flight. This comes with benefits and drawbacks. Recently I missed the flight that would have taken me home for the weekend. I was number four on the standby list and almost snagged the last open seat. Alas, I stood on the jet bridge as the plane’s door was raised. I waved goodbye to the flight attendants and saw them slip out of heels and into flats. No other flights were available that night which left me stranded. Even though my checking account took a major hit from finding a hotel last minute, I survived. Relying on empty seats forces me to change my travel plans quite often. So, I’ve learned a valuable life lesson, be ready to change your plans and enjoy it.

Thanksgiving marks the busiest day for air travel. Flight delays, cancellations, and overbooking occur most often. This time of year is the worst for a standby passenger. Anyone flying standby knows that, at any time of the year, flying out of Washington D.C. on a Friday night is almost impossible. Flying to New York City the day before New Year’s Eve is also a struggle. However, when spring break rolls around and flights to Miami and Cancun are overbooked, flights to the mountains are usually empty. I can take the flight to Colorado Springs and hike through Rocky Mountain National Park. When it’s Christmas time and people fly home to see family, I can wait until Christmas day to catch a nearly empty plane to go anywhere. Sometimes, I won’t be able to catch the flight home. But I can always board a flight to Rome, and do as the Romans do.

The lesson to take away from this is that, you should be adaptable and optimistic. Embark on the next journey to experience something new. When it’s Christmas and James Taylor is singing, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas,” there will be overbooked flights going to the exact location I wish to be. I can take a chance and wait to board the flight home, but I may not always get my wish. Or I could board the empty flight to the Kahului airport in Maui and end up on the beach, sipping something fruity and still be singing along with James Taylor. Missing the flight you really wanted hurts, just like missing out on the job you wanted or not getting the internship you worked hard for. We all experience missed opportunities and closed doors. Be positive, because the next opportunity is around the corner, or at the next gate. The next journey can change your life in ways you never dreamed. The next flight available could be going to Stockholm. Enjoy the experience and don’t forget to practice your Swedish.