Volcanic Disruption: Travel Misery or Travel Fun?

I’m writing from France where I just spent the week teaching at an Executive Education organization.  It was very enjoyable and went very well.

I am now “stranded” as a result of airport closures in the wake of the volcano’s eruption in Iceland.  If all went according to original plan, I would be in the air right now on my way back home.  But, Mother Nature had other plans for us!

As I scanned the various world newspapers this morning, I kept seeing headlines like “Travel Misery as thousands stranded across Europe”.   I couldn’t help but thinking: why does it have to be seen as misery?  Sure, for people caught at airports earlier in the week, it would have been a major hassle, but still, WE CAN ALL CHOOSE OUR RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION.

Which response would  you rather choose?  Do you want to spend your time being annoyed, frustrated, disappointed, angry?  OR, would you rather let that go and instead focus on how you can MAKE THIS A FUN ADVENTURE?  Sure, I’d like to be home to see my family.  I miss them and I want to be with them.   I really would like to be on my way there, but the situation is beyond my control.

So, I have a choice:
Spend my time being miserable; or
Accept what I can’t change and focus on what I CAN change -
my attitude and how I use my time.

I’m taking Option # 2.

To be fair, there are far worse places (and times) to be stranded than a nice small town near Paris in the springtime.  Absolutely.  But even here, I see lots of frustrated executives around me, spending all their time trying to book this train or that, find this option or the other.  It’s worth investing some time in that, but how much?  And, even while they invest the time, how about managing their emotional state differently?

More importantly, a broader level I think there’s a good reminder in here for all of us.  We humans think we’re so high and mighty.  We think WE run the show on earth.  This volcano is yet another example of how we really don’t.  The more we accept that, the better off we are, I believe.  Mother Nature has just sent us a little message, “Hey people, don’t forget who’s REALLY in charge”.

So I’m off for a walk into town.  I’ll do some reading, do some errands, and focus on enjoying myself and making it an adventure.

I wish the same change in perspective for the  many thousands who are fighting against the situation instead of accepting it.