I was aboard a plane flying home to Canada. I travel a lot and I get pretty disgusted with the
conditions in air travel these days. After being served my meal, I was ready to start complaining
to the person next to me about the food, the uncomfortable seats, the delays, and the general
inconvenience
Before I opened my mouth, the woman sitting next to me spoke. She had a thick accent and in
broken English she talked about the wonderful service she received on the plane. She then
proceeded to comment on the cheerful flight attendants, and then she said, "We were fortunate
to be having such a fine meal. I am so happy to be flying to Vancouver to visit my
grandchildren." Amazed, I asked, "How can you be so positive and optimistic in a world that
seems so marginal?"
"I am from Sarajevo," she said. "I have seen my friends and many of my family killed. I joined
my family here in your wonderful country. You see, the food on the plane, the delays, they don't
matter to me. Since coming here, every day is a good day for me. I have learned that there are
really no bad days any more, only bad thoughts."
Her comment put everything into perspective.