Part 2: Kindness Prevails
Navigating Travel Chaos with Gratitude
Read Part 1 of this journey here:
As we got more hugs while deplaning and a special tip of the hat from the flight deck crew, we stepped foot in London.
We were exhausted and we still had a long way to go … but we were also fueled by all the kindness we had experienced thus far.
With carry-on suitcases and backpacks in tow, we navigated the crowds to the London Underground.
At Heathrow, I wrestled with ticketing machines, grateful for the kindness of strangers who pointed us toward the right local train.
A yellow-turbaned septuagenarian shouted “Cheers mate! Stay kind!” after he read the note on the back of the one he received.
We had made it across the pond, floating on a kindness high.
What should have been a direct SFO-CDG flight in business class, had turned into this amazing adventure — a detour through the hustle and bustle of the morning rush in a local London train carriage, which was a stark contrast to the quiet suburban commute in our car.
Passengers stood shoulder to shoulder, their fashion a blend of sharp, tailored suits and fitted A-line dresses with neutral-colored scarves and branded handbags.
Dark coats and trendy shoes dominated, with my daughter’s custom-painted rainbow backpack sticking out like a sore thumb.
Did we look “too American?” she asked as she suddenly noticed our pedestrian jeans and sneakers.
The rickety sounds of the train, the mixed scents of coffee and perfume, and the symphony of accents filling the air created a sensory overload for our tired brains.
My daughter rested her head on my shoulder and wondered: “Do you think we’ll find a quiet spot at the other station?”
I didn’t know if we would.
I just had to stay alert so we wouldn’t miss hopping off at King’s Cross!
We managed to find our way, reading signs carefully as we navigated to the immigration agents. “Bonjour madame! Passeport, s'il vous plaît.” Music to my ears!
We were still in London — and stuck here for the next six hours — but it felt a little closer to our destination!
The station was bustling with chaos but a helpful ticketing agent guided us to a lounge where my daughter immediately fell asleep on my lap.
As I stroked her hair, I marveled at how much she and I had both grown in this short period of time.
How everyone’s kindness had helped us navigate the overwhelm of this situation.
How we were both learning that there is so much good in this world!
I may have nodded off for a while, too, before I heard the rattling sound of a trolley filled with dirty dishes. I hadn’t even noticed we could get something to eat here.
We used the restroom and plodded over to the snack bar only to find this cheerful young lady making fresh smoothies!
Kale and green apple, carrot and mango, pineapple and orange — “Which one do you fancy, madame?”
The smoothies were delicious, so we went back for seconds. This time I had a little token of appreciation for her.
As I handed it over, her eyes widened with surprise, then lit up with delight.
She read the note over and over.
Without warning, she came around the counter and enveloped me in a warm hug, then excitedly reached for her phone to find and tag me on Instagram.
I got to see another aspect of her life on those little squares — she was a fashion designer and created amazing outfits in concert with her cousin. These girls had talent!
As we scrolled through her Instagram feed, she shared how rare it was for travelers to engage in conversation.
Instead, a huge chunk of her part-time job here in the lounge was filled with a litany of complaints — about canceled flights, unclean restrooms and water spots on glasses!
Oh my heart!
It made me realize just how self-centered we are.
We are so caught up in our own little inconveniences that we forget to see the people around us.
How many stories do we miss … how many connections do we fail to make … simply because we’re so focused on I, me, myself?
As I left the lounge, I made sure to thank the person at the gate whose job was literally to be on his feet for seven hours greeting people with, “Welcome to the lounge! Can I help you find something?”
I also went up to the ticket counter to leave a token of appreciation for the lady who had tried to find us a ticket on an earlier train with no luck.
We were finally enroute to Paris. This Eurostar train experience was starkly different from the London Underground.
Refreshed by her nap and the decadent smoothies, my daughter made some paintings.
I was too tired to craft but I continued to take note of the names of those who served our carriage.
The Irish boy who got me a hot cup of English Breakfast tea and made recommendations for parks to visit in Paris, the portly middle-aged supervisor who offered me a rosé after realizing I had been up for 20 hours, the sprightly Middle-Eastern woman who got us pecan pie and warmed our hearts with her smile…
The joy I felt in seeing their smiles, in hearing their squeals of delight, in witnessing their excitement as they shared these tokens with other passengers … in all the blessings we received.
It’s not something one can quantify. It’s an immeasurable amount of happiness … that feeling when you know you brightened someone’s day.
There was a couple on the train who was curious about these little tokens of appreciation and we struck a conversation.
They were heading to Paris for their anniversary, had been through an ordeal with their flight cancellations as well, and were hoping to finally find some time to unwind and enjoy some leisurely vineyard strolls.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my last token and customized it a bit for it to be relevant to their celebration.
I turned it over and quickly scribbled: “Hope you have an amazing time in Paris! Happy Anniversary!”
Their eyes lit up as I handed it to them, reminding me, once again, of the power of small kindnesses.
By the time we reached Gare du Nord, I had given out 34 little tokens ... 34 lives touched positively between London and Paris, 34 smiles received in return and maybe about 20 hugs from folks I’ll likely never cross paths again with.
I had been up for 26 hours and we only had an hour and a half before we needed to get to dinner.
Logic dictated we should have been dragging our feet, our spirits as heavy as our eyelids.
But my daughter and I were still experiencing that kindness high. It was an indescribable feeling of being enveloped in the goodness of humankind.
I share this here as encouragement ... don’t think that you can’t make a difference.
Notice those that go unseen. Make conversations with the everyday workers — they are more than just their uniforms.
Most of all, be kind.
XOXO
Mansi.