The couple who reminded me why I fly

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The Humbling

Here's the thing that knocked me sideways:

I'd turned flying into commuting.

Somewhere between my fiftieth and hundredth flight, I'd stopped paying attention. Air travel had become just another inconvenience – delays to curse, legroom to complain about, Wi-Fi passwords to hunt down so I could scroll through the same social media feeds I'd check on the ground. On a recent Southwest flight from Cleveland to Denver I had some wonderful seat mates.

Watching Carl and Vivian reminded me of something I'd forgotten: This is still miraculous.

Every single takeoff defies what was possible for 99.9% of human history. We're crossing distances that killed pioneers, seeing our planet from a perspective reserved for gods and birds, watching entire states scroll by like pages in a book.

This Cleveland couple had saved for months to surprise their son, who was picking them up at Denver International. A couple in their 50s it was their first flight in over 20 years.

When Vivian spotted the Rocky Mountains emerging on the horizon as we descended, the wonder in her voice was something you couldn't fake or manufacture.

They weren't taking one moment of this for granted.

What I Learned at 35,000 Feet

The real travel hack isn't about points or upgrades or finding the cheapest flights.

It's this: Pay attention.

Next time you're up there:

• Actually look out the window

• Notice the person next to you noticing

• Remember that this ordinary Tuesday miracle would have been impossible magic to your great-grandparents

• Put the phone down for fifteen minutes

• Watch America unfold beneath you like a living map

I know flying is expensive. I know not everyone gets this opportunity. That's exactly why we shouldn't waste it treating the journey like dead time between destinations.

Landing

As we touched down in Denver, Carl turned to Vivian with something like disbelief in his voice:

"I can't believe we're really here."

She squeezed his hand. "Tommy's going to be so surprised to see us at that finish line."

Watching the mountains grow larger through that small window, I felt something I hadn't experienced on a plane in years: genuine gratitude. Not just for reaching the destination, but for the journey itself. For the technology that makes this possible. For the chance to see our world from a place our ancestors could only imagine.

The window seat isn't just about the view – it's about remembering that every mile traveled is still worth your attention.

Don't let the miracle become routine.

Names changed for privacy, but every moment of wonder was real.

Big news: I finally got my own website up – theworldunfolding.com! No more sending people that impossible-to-remember Beehiiv link. Now when someone asks about these stories, you can actually tell them where to find me.

Help me share this: Forward this to one friend who travels. I'm at 452 subscribers, racing to hit 500 before our first child is born. Every new person helps me build something real before everything changes.

Quick reminder: If you enjoyed this, clicking on the ads helps keep these stories coming your way.

Until next Thursday,

Jeff

P.S. – Book the window seat next time. Even if you're an aisle person.