Why I Dread Window Seats (But Totally Get the Appeal)
The following post is from Concepts: 101 Short Stories, Essays, and Insights to Improve your Communication Skills
Whenever I fly, I like to sit by the isle.
Especially when the flight is long.
I can stretch out my legs.
If I need to use the restroom, I can go without having to ask anyone for permission.
Also, I am the first one out to get my bags.
I feel free.
The isle seats are not the preferred seats for many.
Many like the window seats.
The few unfortunate times I am seated next to the window, I am given a saving grace.
There is a woman and her son who are seated next to me.
The woman asks me:
‘Excuse me sir, would you be okay trading seats with my son? He really likes the window seat.’
I think:
‘Yes lady, go ahead! Your son can take the window seat, you can take the middle seat, and I can take the isle seat. We all win!’
When we are ready to depart, the son’s eyes are glued to the window.
He watches the plane goes faster and faster.
Higher and higher.
He continues to watch until the cities look like dots.
Once we are in the air and he sees the clouds, he no longer looks out the window.
His enthusiasm has faded.
He begins playing with his iPad.
I look at this kid and think:
‘See? The window seats are not really worth the hype, right?’
The flight progresses.
By the time we are about to land, his enthusiasm returns.
Once again, he is glued to the window.
He looks at the tiny dots of cities gradually getting larger as we get closer to landing.
Then we land.
Once again, his enthusiasm fades.
Is that what the hype is about with window seats??
2 bursts of enthusiasm?
If so, I’ll let anyone get the window seat!
I am cool with maintaining the same emotion throughout the entire flight.
But if you were to ask the kid, 2 bursts of enthusiasm trump having the same emotion throughout the entire flight.
