Bumped Off

Daily Wisdom  – Motivational Podcast – Day 331 – Inspiration: Above and Beyond

Recently I was on a flight, I was scheduled to fly at a certain time. I arrived at the airport on time. I registered and gotten my ticket and my boarding pass. Everything was according to plan. But for whatever reason, everyone had gotten on the plane except me. They said they didn't have a seat for me. I couldn't understand what had happened. I calmly approached the desk and asked the stewardess, "What about my seat? I have not been assigned a seat?"

She said that my name had been bumped off. The airlines had overbooked the flight and one name was bumped off, mine. I had flown many, many times over the years. This has never happened to me.

I was in a quandary because I had a business appointment. My flight was going to be now delayed and I would not be on time, and many people were waiting for me to make a presentation. What should I do?

Being bumped off is not something which is desirable yet it's not controllable. I didn't have a choice. I certainly didn't ask for it. As a matter of fact, the airline had asked prior to the flight leaving, if there were anyone who would be willing to give up their seats in exchange for a possible compensation. I did not answer that question because I personally needed to be at my destination on time. But I was still bumped off.

The lady looked at me in a kind way and said, "I am so sorry," and all I could do was accept it. I was given a small voucher so I could get something to eat from the food court. Then I waited, and stayed there for another several hours in anticipation of the next flight. Later, I was given a different flight which, of course, got me to my location much later. I accepted this with grace.

You see, they could cancel my flight but they couldn’t cancel my day. They could affect the things that they have, but I knew it was not intentional. This was something that happened. I was just part of it. I could look at this and think I was a victim but I considered this a blessing. I used this opportunity to catch up on the rest of my work and do things which I didn't have the time to do before and complete my day, and I arrived a little later, but it all turned out to be good. That is the way life is.

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