Perhaps you’ve handed over your luggage on a trip. You might be separated from it for a flight or for a quick trip from a hotel lobby to your room, but there are longer stints when boarding a cruise or waiting for a resort room to become ready. As much as we might appreciate not having to lug our luggage for a hour or more as we maneuver flights, hallways, and new spaces, it can be difficult to walk away from bags and relinquish control.

We were on a ship for a couple hours before heading to our cabin. As we walked through a hallway, we heard a woman who was not happy. We caught a glimpse of her in a tight space with a couple cruise team members, and she was loudly demanding to know where her luggage was. By the looks of the crammed bags in the space, unless she had an air tag in her bag, I was doubtful she’d readily find it. I felt bad for the team members. Their role is to help others, but they are the target when things aren’t going well.

There’s a difference between respecting someone as we ask challenging questions or ask for help and stating a demand and expecting an instant, accurate response. Perhaps this woman needed her bag immediately for an important reason. Sometimes our desperation peels away our otherness. Our view narrows into a tunnel vision of only what we need or want. For some people, this tunnel vision expands beyond emergency situations and invades most interactions. It’s all about us, regardless of the inconvenience and disrespect it projects onto others.

We need to pause—long enough to consider a broader perspective. Long enough to consider others. Long enough to realize how we’re representing ourselves. We might still feel anxious or annoyed, but at least we can walk away with respect for both ourselves and others. We don’t have control over it all, and until we acknowledge that in practical, everyday application, we will find ourselves in more reactive and less intentional circumstances.

Side note: When I travel, I keep necessities in my backpack. It’s an easy, hands-free, lightweight reassurance that allows me to be prepared for at least 24-48 hours of the unexpected. It alleviates some uncertainties and allows me to enjoy the experience with less worry. It’s a way I can make a little more space for myself in a practical way. I get to be more intentional and less reactive, which also helps others with whom I come into contact.

Whether traveling around the world or journeying through the day, set yourself and others up with a foundation of respect.

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