Mindfulness Changes Series (010) – A Recount of My First and Unforgettable Flight Experience

Introduction

I had the pleasure to attend a fearless summit 2023 in Kenya under Harvest Institute. Flying for the first time was a journey that will forever hold a special place in my heart. This journey that defied the odds, rose me to greater heights, and enabled me to see potential in myself.  I grew up in the village from a humble family and I remember as a child, whenever an aero plane passed our home, I and my siblings would wave at it as we sang in a chorus saying, “Bye-bye Museveni”, “Bye-bye Museveni” until it departed from our eyes. We had a blueprint whereby we thought that only the President would travel by air.

 

Growing up, I had limited dreams, and at no point did I ever see myself taking a plane. When I was young because other children sang that they wanted to be pilots after finishing their studies, I would also sing along. I must say that I just kept going to school not even knowing what I wanted to be. All I dreamt of was to work hard, get through school, get a job to support my family and get married. My world and dreams were so small because of the environment I grew up in. Luckily, I made it through school and became a graduate, a step that opened me new opportunities.

 

First time visit at the airport.

My first thoughts and admiration of flying on a plane occurred to me in January 2021 having gone with my boss, Mr. Jjuuko Samuel to Entebbe Airport. We had gone there to supervise some geotechnical investigation works. While at the airport field, I remember making a statement to my boss; “When will I ever get a chance to fly on a plane” and he answered me “You will, just be prepared”.

 

I responded by saying, “I don’t think it is possible unless I get a scholarship which I don’t even see myself doing in a short while.” I doubted because I had no faith, and thus limited God’s ability to my level of thinking. In addition, I wasn’t aware of the power of personal agency. In 2023, I embarked on a personal growth journey that led me to this amazing experience. What seemed impossible is now history.

 

Flight Preparation

I started preparing for my flight in April 2023 by processing one document at a time. Among the documents I needed to process were a passport, yellow fever book, and air flight ticket. I also had to exchange my upkeep from UGX to KES. After I had made my documents ready, I made a checklist list of the essential items. These included clothes suitable for the climate of my destination, toiletries, medications, etcetera.

 

As I packed, I kept adding and removing clothes. I had been informed and it had been indicated on my air ticket that the acceptable weight for my luggage shouldn’t exceed 46 kg. Some outfits that I had intended to carry were left behind because I felt that my luggage was heavy, and I wanted to avoid additional fees for extra luggage. Amazingly, my luggage weighed 13 kg at check-in.

 

Flight Departure

The day finally arrived when I was scheduled to board my first flight. It was 04^th July 2023. My flight was at 20:10 hours and my check-in was between 04:10 p.m. to 07:10 p.m. I checked in a few minutes past 06:00 p.m. and I found it easy to navigate the airport since I had gone with a friend, Christine, who knew the airport well. Finding the check-in counter, security checkpoints, and departure gates wasn’t hard for me.

 

Being a first-time flyer, to ensure a smooth experience, I packed my belongings neatly. I followed the guidelines provided by the airport authorities. Also, I did not carry any prohibited items in my handbag, placed my travel documents close, and kept presenting them at every point they were needed for verification.  As I sat at the designated boarding gate, I kept listening to announcements until we were informed to present our boarding pass and passport identification and then went for boarding. The plane departed a little bit late from the scheduled time, but it took us only 50 minutes to land in Kenya.

 

Flight Experience

While flying to Kenya, I traveled at night. As the plane left the ground, I sat comfortably in my seat where I relaxed in what felt like a modern bus in the air and I enjoyed my first flight experience. Experiencing the plane leaving the ground filled me with a sense of power and inspiration. What a first-time experience shock! I resisted snacks served by the cabin crew as the plane set off. Having sat in front, I was the first to be asked if I wanted a snack, but I resisted the offer because I had strictly budgeted my money and did not think that these snacks were for free.

 

In another experience, as the plane reached a higher altitude, the earth faded away and the plane got into a realm of stars. I was privileged to experience the beautiful night view that gave me a sense of wonder and awe. As I gazed at the sky through the plane window, I saw the hidden beauty of the stars that lie beyond our intermediate reach. These stars seemed to disappear near the plane and were only appearing from a far distance in a beautiful circular pattern which got me curious and thus did some research. From research, I discovered that what causes stars to appear in a circular motion some distance away from the plane is the attitude and atmospheric conditions. The experience left me with wonders that exist beyond the earth and enabled me to appreciate the vastness of our universe.

 

The Landing

We landed at 09:49 p.m. in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport but before descending back to the ground, I gazed at the beautiful view of Nairobi City that made me marvel at its beauty. Upon touching the ground again, everyone was without their bag, I got curious and wondered where my bag would be and when I asked a colleague, she mentioned to me that I should just get onto the airport bus that was to drop us off where bags were. The bus placed us at the immigration offices where I entered and presented my travel documents for inspection by the immigration officers.

 

I remember being the last person to present my documents in the long queue and after the formalities, I collected my checked-in luggage from the designated carousel and proceeded through customs as I followed what other people were doing. I passed through the security checks, and I transitioned into my new surroundings just by following the footsteps of other immigrants. On reaching outside, my host: Miriam Wanjiku was already at terminal A1 waiting for me. It was a memorable experience spending 04 days in Kenya attending Fearless Summit 2023 and I returned to Uganda when I was intrepid (fearless).

The impact of the flight

My overall flight experience made a big impact on my personal growth. It cultivated my adventurous spirit and filled me with the freedom to do whatever I wanted in life. I grew in patience while I went through all the check-in and security checks, became more open-minded while I saw the ground below me and appreciated the beauty of time-saving as I was able to quickly cover a long distance in a short time by air.  New perspectives about life crossed my mind, and I felt encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new opportunities. I felt a sense of accomplishment and I grew in courage to keep growing.

 

The plane had no daily life distractions thus I was able to relax and reflect on several aspects of my life. My boss mentioned, that “some mindsets vacate your mind after taking a plane.” And oh yes, I notice a difference in my thinking patterns. I am not and will never be the same again after this one achievement.

 

The preconceived notions and biases I had about flying all departed from me. Things like; “Flying in the air is not safe and it is very expensive so I would rather take a bus.” “I fear heights and don’t want to be inconvenienced due to long check-in and security process.” “Motions bring me sickness, discomfort, and nausea so I don’t want to move.” These were all false mental obstacles getting in my way of growth, but after I accomplished my first flight I am so excited and I feel my passion for travel was ignited that now I am planning my future flights and adventures.

A few insights that crossed my mind while on the flight.

• If you have the will to succeed then you will, no matter your background.

Ambition and drive are two essential qualities that can propel anyone toward success, regardless of your background. My boss once sent me a message where he said, “I have a personal drive and zeal to succeed without being pushed and/or monitored and that there is no limit for me if I continue yearning for the best in my life.”

 

This statement was the fuel that got me into personal growth and having embarked on this amazing journey called personal growth I notice that when you possess a burning desire to achieve your goals, you become unstoppable. It is this internal motivation that enables you to overcome obstacles and create opportunities for yourself. Look I grew up in the village but that has no restriction to how far I can go. I can succeed and live a fulfilled life just as someone who grew up elsewhere.

 

• Embracing personal growth and long-life learning can turn around your background.

I graduated from university, which is a good thing. Education acted as a catalyst and a steppingstone for opportunities, but my certificate isn’t a sole determinant for my future success. Within me was a blueprint that education is limited to finishing university, getting a master’s degree or PhD. However, after several months of immersing myself in personal growth and development, my blueprint changed. I discovered that education is more to what we learn from classrooms. More than a certificate is continuous personal growth. The only reason I got to experience the plane for the first time was because I was engaging in personal growth. I am no longer the poor young girl who used to think ear planes are for the president. I am a leader who strives to leave a positive impact on this world by growing myself into a better person.

 

• Having a supportive network is something that must be held with utmost gratitude.

Barriers imposed by our background can be broken when we surround ourselves with supportive individuals. I got on a plane because I surrounded myself with a mentor, a role model, and a like-minded individual who believed in my potential and provided me with guidance, encouragement, and valuable connections. This person is my boss, Mr. Jjuuko Samuel. The connection he provided with me to join Harvest Institute is what led to the possibility of this flight. And for this support network, I am deeply grateful.

 

Conclusion:

Stepping onto the airplane for the first time from Uganda to Kenya was an awesome experience. It one a journey that filled me with a mix of nervousness and excitement. The journey was exciting and left a memorable experience in my life. It filled me with inspiration. The view of the night stars left me in awe of the vastness of the universe. This point in my life was a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of my transformation.

 

I was loaded with the courage to face my fears, embrace discomfort, take calculated risks and find my full potential. I was filled with the mindset that these days enable me to triumph over my physical, emotional, and mental obstacles. The experience broke me free from some limitations and opened doors for me to pursue my dreams. I discovered the greatness that lie within me, waiting upon to be unleashed. I felt a sense of accomplishment and I look forward to embarking on more journeys.

 

Reflection

Having shared my experience of my first flight I would like to leave with you a few reflections to ponder about and trigger you into a mindful change. What are your thoughts and emotions towards embarking on your personal growth? Do you have fears or limitations hindering your growth? Think about the first step you would take to challenge yourself out of your fears or limitations. What one mindset can you let go of to activate personal growth? How do you envision your personal growth journey unfolding in the next year or years to come? I challenge you to consider taking a flight as one of the practical actions. It’s a transformative experience that will leave a lasting impact on your life. So here you go, where is your first or next flight destination? Go ahead and catch the flight.

**********Thank you for sparing your time to read*********