Today was another travel day and another good chance to simply look for opportunities to be courteous and helpful to those around me.  As I've noted before, traveling often includes a certain amount of stress and hassle for most people - from getting through security to struggling with bags to trying to make connections, to all the other logistical challenges that have to be negotiated.  When I just relax about it all and focus on being kind, the stress seems to literally melt away.

     None of my kindnesses were earth-shattering and, in fact, they might more readily be called simply being courteous.  I let someone go in front of me through security.  I was friendly to the TSA person even when they decided to open up my bag for closer screening.  I helped someone get their carryon luggage into the overhead bin.  I let someone go in front of me at the car rental office.  I slowed down to let a car that had started on the wrong road reverse direction and get onto the right road - without honking or cursing or thinking negatively of them . . . after all, it could easily have been me in that situation.

     To be honest, when I think about the times in the past when I've allowed myself to get more annoyed at people and situations when traveling, I'm embarrassed.  It's both stress-producing and unproductive.  It's amazing how a healthy dose of kindness just seems to make everything go more smoothly - like a lubricant in the gears of our daily lives.