So Christmas Day 2014 at 7AM I was on Facebook browsing and came across an article detailing an unbelievable flight rate to Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Johannesburg; in which all flights were listed under $500! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was jumping through the roof excited! Especially when moments earlier I was feeling down because it was my first Christmas ever being away from my family and friends. Now anyone who knows me knows I’ve been scared to death to travel abroad partially due to things I saw in movies (Touristas and Hostel 1,2 and 3!) and a major part of me just being a scaredy cat! But I made a resolution to myself that I would take my first international trip in 2015; so imagine my delight seeing flights to such amazing places for a fraction of the cost. I quickly 3-way called my two best girlfriends at 7am in the morning; because of course they did not answer my text minutes prior to my call. Half asleep they were like well “Merry Christmas to you too! Let me get up and think about this.” And we hung up. Now I’ll admit typically that is me, the very logical, have a plan for a plan type of person, but today I just knew faith was intervening and making a way for me and my friends to get to Abu Dhabi with $200 flights! So I didn’t hear from them and I attended a brunch that ended at 3pm. So by 3:30pm, I called them again to get their verdict, so after much back and forth they agreed. So I go back on, and I could not find anymore $200 flights! I was panicking now, because how could I have missed such a FABULOUS opportunity! So I started to change the dates around and I did 10/6-10/13/2015 to my surprise I found a flight for $293!! Wait it gets better, There is a day layover in Paris, France! So my first international trip I will get to see Paris AND Abu Dhabi! Oh and did I mention my birthday is 10/8; so yes I will be spending my birthday abroad, who would have ever thought!
So I say all this to say, many times, more often than not, we miss opportunities in life because we take too much time contemplating what can go wrong or what is wrong with the situation, instead of appreciating the opportunity for what it is; an experience that will help mold you into a better and wiser person. So I imagine if I would have sat on such a deal any longer, I would not be able to experience such amazing places as Paris and Abu Dhabi and I would be left wondering what if.
Quote: I’d rather DO and learn from an experience than to sit around wondering what if… #food4thought
UPDATE: Because this was such an amazing flight opportunity the airlines only honored the flights if we changed to direct flights, so I didn’t get to do my day layover in Paris, but I did get to see the beautiful Abu! It was such an amazing experience.
Meet Evelyn Reed, the HR Jawn 