If you have ever watched the movie “Love, Actually,” you’ve seen the opening scene in the airport, showing all the loved ones reuniting for the holiday season. The scene is very heartwarming. People of all ages meeting people they haven’t seen, whether it’s been a few days or a few years, they all are excited to see each other; some even cry.

Airports represent so many different feelings. Feelings of excitement, freedom, home, sadness, loneliness, etc. We are all traveling for different reasons, happy or sad, and you can meet some really interesting people on the plane. I have sat next to so many people for just a few hours of my life, learned their story, and never saw them again.

I’ll never forget the first time I flew to New York. It was the first time I realized what a place of emotions an airport was. It wasn’t the flight, or the fact that I was going to New York, but the girl I saw standing right outside of the security checkpoint. She wasn’t in line yet, and she was bawling. Her face red. She was probably in her early 20s hugging what looked like her grandparents goodbye. I had never seen a stranger cry like that in public before, and being young, I couldn’t help but stare. Her grandparents were crying silently as well. They kept hugging over and over again. I didn’t understand. My mom saw me staring at them and whispered in my ear, “That could be the last time she sees them.” That moment has stuck with me until this day.

I’ve always wanted to just show up at the airport one day with only my wallet and pick a random place to go to. Go there with no plan, no clothes, nothing. Just be free and explore. I never realized that not many other people have this fantasy. I also never understood why people didn’t like to fly. But I finally understand now.

Airplanes themselves can be scary, but I think what’s scary is the mental image. The idea that you may never see the people you are leaving again. Life often comes in the way of things and you never know what’s going to happen. Not everyone wants to be adventurous and try new things. Some people want to stay in one place.

So the next time you are in an airport, take it all in. Look around you. Talk to the people next to you on the plane. Not only will it make time fly by, but you get to talk to someone new and hear their story. Hug your loved ones a million times. Be sensitive to those around you.

During the holidays, the airport is especially full of goodbyes and hellos. Although the airports are crazy busy and it’s easy to get frustrated, don’t. It’s such a heartening thing to experience the atmosphere and I highly recommend it.