Hello my friend,
14:10. That’s how long the flight from Atlanta to Seoul took. And I don’t mean minutes. 14 hours and 10 minutes.
Truth is, I’m used to it and don’t view the time on board a plane for an international flight as a problem. But flying from Florida to California. I hate that. Five hours of being cooped up. Ouch.
Now wait a second. How can I enjoy a flight that’s nine hours longer than a domestic one. Good question. And the answer is that it all comes down to how “I see” each experience.
With international flights I say to myself, “Hey, you choose this right? So don’t complain. Figure out a way to enjoy the ride. Look for ways to stay open and flowing.
And so I do.
Much of the time I’m sitting still, watching my breath, appreciating the miracle of world travel via the sky. Or I’m reading, thinking or watching a movie.
But from FL to LA? I tend to do the opposite. Until I catch myself as I did before my first trip to Asia in 1993. I remind myself, “I don’t care if you like this or not. You chose to book this 5-hour flight, now figure out a way to enjoy it.”
Ironically, I enjoy domestic flights by “not eating” the “fake foods” and by sleeping or picturing my best moments in the Theatre of my Mind. Doing this puts me into flow and good things begin to happen.
But being grouchy and grumpy. That doesn’t usually lead to the positive, although sometimes it does.
So now we get to the subject of Christmas and the auto-pilot belief that you MUST send out cards, buy presents and go to lots of parties.
Well, somewhere along the line the ZM within said, “Not for me. But I wish YOU a very Merry Christmas. I’ll be merry with or without the gifts, parties and pastries. But a glass of dry red wine, hey, I’ll drink to that.”
So I’m up early in Seoul, getting ready to put my soul into a mind-body Chi Kung workout and I wish you a great holiday season, with all the trimmings. Seriously.
Look for updates from South Korea and China with each passing day, including pictures and video.
Ah yes, my gift to you this holiday season.
Matt Furey
P. S. Order The Flow CDs before the New Year and make 2014 your best year ever.