In your own world...

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “he’s in his own world.” The general meaning of this expression is that the person is daydreaming. My trip back to the U.S. allowed me to recognize that this phrase can be taken to other levels.

I was waiting in line for passport control. I was maybe the 4th person in the line when a woman had some issue with her passport requiring us to stand there for another 15 minutes. There were no other lines we could join and our line was just getting longer by the minute. They finally opened up a new line next to us and right away two men from the back of the line charged forward and many others followed. If you’re a courteous human being – you allow the people in front of you to go first, they’ve been waiting longer than you. But, no – these men were in their own world – the world where it’s all about them, everyone else be damned. Debording the flight, I was incredulous at how many people reached over other people’s heads to pull their bags down, nearly knocking those in front of them (or behind them) in the head. It wasn’t just one or two instances. They were in their own world with no regard to those around them. Arriving at San Francisco, I had a long layover and walked around the airport. The majority of people there were immersed in their phones. They were all in their own world.

We can also look at this another way – we are, each of us, in our own world. Our experiences, our thoughts, our beliefs (both conscious and subconscious) dictate how our world manifests for us. We all co-exist on this planet, but your view of the world and the way you experience it is specific for you and is not the same way someone else views and experiences the world. Knowing this, we each have the ability to change our world – by shifting our thoughts, clearing out beliefs that don’t serve us, choosing how we react to our experiences – basically taking ownership of our lives and taking control of the driver’s seat. We each have the capability of improving our world. It’s extremely important to focus on ourselves for change, yet we must also be conscientious of others. Don’t clock other people on the head with your baggage so you can save a few seconds (I do admit, I’ve been guilty of this in the past), say “bless you” or “gesundheit” when the person next to you sneezes instead of ignoring them and staring into the void of your smart phone, be courteous to those around you. As I was waiting to board my second flight, a man asked me, “how are you doing?” He did it in a way that was direct, he was engaging me in conversation – human interaction. Smile at the person next to you - engage them and ask them how their day is. BE human. It’s one way for your own world to become a much more pleasant place. Love, Adrienne :)

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