“What a surprise, I’ve never seen a Fendi bar before!” someone said to me in the Doha airport.
“Me neither. It looks great!” I replied.
“Would you take a photo of me?” she asked, smiling.
“Of course.”
“I’ll take one of you after.”
“Thanks, but after 13 hours of flying and 4 more in the airport, I don’t think I look my best,” I said, skeptically.
“I’ve been flying for 15 hours. I’m coming from Australia and heading to Brazil. I’ve got another long flight ahead.”
“Wow, congratulations—you’re an inspiration! Safe travels!”
This was a spontaneous conversation with a stranger. And yet, it became a lesson in mindset for me.
I was struck by how fresh she looked—despite all that flying. Maybe the bright red lipstick helped, but more than that, her energy, enthusiasm, and the way she embraced yet another long flight were simply contagious.
That brief encounter was like a metaphorical slap—a reminder to be grateful. Grateful that I could travel. That I had just spent three good days in Tokyo. That I was in one of my favorite airports, surrounded by things I love.
That woman from Brazil was like a guardian angel on my shoulder, nudging me to see the bright side of things. Because there is a bright side—if we choose to pay attention to it, if we choose to want to see it.
So next time you feel worn out, like everything is heavy, gray, or overwhelming—remember to look for the sun hiding behind the clouds. There’s a good chance you’ll find it.