I was on a plane when the crew started serving dinner. I unfolded my tray table, ready to enjoy my meal, when suddenly the man in front of me reclined his seat without warning. My drink almost spilled, and I felt a wave of irritation. I politely leaned forward and asked him not to do that until dinner was finished. He mumbled something, clearly not thrilled, but eventually put his seat back up.
Relieved, I began to eat, thinking the situation was resolved. But just a few minutes later, he reclined his seat again. This time, my first reaction was anger. I opened my mouth to say something, but then I paused. A thought struck me: maybe this wasn’t about me at all.
Perhaps he was exhausted after a long journey or dealing with pain or discomfort. Maybe he didn’t even realize how his actions were affecting me. In that moment, I understood that while I couldn’t control what he did, I could control how I responded.I took a deep breath, adjusted my position, and decided to let it go. As I shifted my focus to finishing my meal calmly,
I felt an unexpected sense of peace. By the end of the flight, my frustration had faded, replaced by a quiet gratitude for the lesson I had learned.Sometimes, life presents us with small challenges to teach us big truths. We can’t always change others, but we can choose our response. Choosing peace over conflict isn’t weakness — it’s strength. That day, on a crowded plane, I discovered that true control comes from within.