Waiting for Our Turn to Exit the Airplane
Let people exit in order, wait for your turn because you will surely reach the airplane’s exit
The flight attendant had just announced that the plane had safely landed. Even so, she reminded everyone to remain seated until the plane had come to a complete stop. But for some reason, some people don’t give a damn to the announcement.
As soon as the announcement was delivered, passengers rose from their seats. They swiftly opened the overhead compartments and retrieved their belongings.
One by one, passengers emptied their seats and filled the narrow aisle in the plane’s center. And yet, the plane hadn’t fully stopped, and the doors hadn’t even opened.
This was my first time flying, and I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by what I saw. The aisle was barely wide enough for one adult to stand comfortably, yet the passengers were lining up, ready to get out.
I sat still, watching and wondering what was going through these people’s minds. Why did they feel the need to get up so quickly? Was the announcement not loud enough or was the flight attendant’s pronunciation unclear? Were these people intentionally ignoring the instructions?
or were they simply in a rush?
I knew that the passengers would be allowed to disembark in order, so I decided to wait for my turn. I listened to the flight attendant, waited for the plane to completely stop, and let the passengers at the front exit first.
To Be the Fastest
At that moment, I reflected on how this plane aisle seemed like a mirror of our lives. Impatient to wait our turn, we race to be the fastest, not realizing that our time to move forward will come when it’s meant to.
In life, we often get caught up in the idea that whoever moves the fastest will be the first to reach their destination. As the passengers eager to exit the plane, many of us believe life is an endless race.
We’re impatient to get what we want — wealth, careers, love, popularity — and in the process, we forget that everyone, eventually, will have their turn.
But, just like on a plane, life has its “rules of play.” There are steps we can’t skip. We can’t force ourselves to arrive faster without considering the process we’ll need to go through.
If we rush, sure, we might trip or fail because we’re unprepared for a situation that hasn’t yet reached its time. Just as we wait for the plane to stop completely, we must wait for the right moment in life to step into the next phase.
The Exit Door
No matter how quickly we rush, there are circumstances beyond our control. Every passenger will eventually get their chance to exit the plane — there’s no need to be hasty or feel the urge to go first.
Everyone has their “exit door” that will open when the time is right, whether it’s in work, relationships, or personal goals.
What we often forget is that hurrying doesn’t guarantee a better result. Just like those passengers who stood up early but still had to wait for the plane door to open, the same goes for our lives.
Being first or fastest doesn’t always bring us greater happiness or success. Sometimes, by waiting, we become more prepared and mature for the next stage of life.
Yes, I admit, my thoughts may seem a bit naive, perhaps tone-deaf to the fast-paced world that demands we always be ready and quick to act. But if rushing leads to failure, what’s the point?
Not Fast, But Right
The process is an inseparable part of life. Just as passengers are called to exit the plane one by one, life also presents us with phases that we must go through in order.
If we rush, we might miss the opportunity to learn from the process itself. The chance to grow, develop, and prepare ourselves for the next chapter in life.
In this process, there’s a message we can uncover. Just like during a flight, we can’t always control when the plane will stop or when the door will open, but we can choose to be patient, calm, and enjoy the journey.
Life isn’t about who moves the fastest, but about how we move at the right moment, in the right way.
