Somehow in Transit

When you really think about it, airports are kind of amazing. 

They sit like small metropolises, filled with people of every age, shape, size and occupation. Most have restaurants and shops. Some have metros and moving walkways. They're glowing little transit centers - modern day oases specifically designed to facilitate the weary traveler in their journey. A stopping point to rest up and refuel or a starting point for the next adventure. Airports are the beginnings of your vacations, your resting place between meetings, your safe haven from the elements. Need to charge your cell phone? Have an outlet! Care for a pretzel? Or maybe a money exchange booth? There they are! Right next to each other. So convenient. 

What I particularly appreciate about the harbors of the sky is the temporary anonymity and the autonomy that they provide. Because I know no one there and I don't have any place to be until my flight begins boarding, my mind gets a break from focusing on the little things and has time to consider the Big Picture. Since I'm in my egocentric early 20's, the Big Picture = Me. And My Life. And where it thinks its going. 

Of course, when I am in an airport, I know exactly where I'm going. I know how I'm going to get there too and what I'm supposed to do until then. I have my routines and I go through the drills. Begin with security. Show ID. Take off the shoes, take off the belt, take out the little plastic baggie with my harmless little travel sized shampoos. Wait for the guy who doesn't know what he's doing to make a few trips through the metal detector. Be patient. Go through the metal detector. Collect my shoes, belt, plastic baggie, find the departure screen. Appreciate the myriad of possibility each listed city represents. Find a snack and a magazine. Go to my gate. Chat up the gate attendant for a window seat. Sit down somewhere and watch the people go by. Take a deep breath and think.... 

Having those few hours just to kick it have become crucial to my mental health in recent times. During the typical stop-over, no one expects me to answer a phone call or be anywhere. Technically, I'm on the go, and so that itch to be doing something is already satisfied just by showing up. There's no pressure to be making friends since I'll probably never see the nice old lady sitting next to me ever again. It would be physically impossible to take care of all of the overdue errands I've been meaning to get to. And so released from those responsibilities, I can seriously consider my future and the scary facts of my current situation. 

Scary Fact #1: After 5 years of specified study and one year on the career path, I don't like the field I've chosen. A shocking revelation, to be sure. I feel like there should be support groups for stuff like this. Hello my name is So-and-So and the focus of my adult life sucks and I no longer want any part of it. 

Scary Fact #2: My unique set of skills does not really equip me for many other industries. Not the way I thought it would when I chose art history classes (which I loved) over biomedical chemistry classes (which I just kinda liked). 

Scary Fact #3: The economy. 

Scary Fact #4: I'm terrified of poverty but for some reason, I still feel like I can be picky when it comes to taking a job. 

So now what? Do I go back to school? Learn something else? What would I study? I'm young enough. I could still become a doctor, or a lawyer, or a Pirate Queen, or.... realistic. I have the world at my fingertips, but what do I do with it? Its like standing in front of the departure screen, choosing a city. All you really have to do is pick a gate, cash in your frequent flyer miles and get on the plane. 

Just pick a direction and go. Go. 
... 
Airports are awesome... if you're leaving soon.