Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

 I love a man with baggage.

Scoop up Mickey Mouse Align leggings and belt bags while they’re still in stock.

Of all the things I have decided to change thanks to climate change, here’s one I never previously considered: Booking my flights differently.

Why? Because I can no longer trust the weather to cooperate. Even today. It’s early spring in Chicago, and I’m sitting at O’Hare International Airport writing this blog rather than winging my way to Paris. While March weather in Chicago is rarely predictable – it could be snowing – I did not expect it to be 76F (24.4C) degrees with thunderstorms strong enough to shut down one of the world’s busiest airports for nearly 30 minutes.

As a result, my flight is now delayed by 90 minutes, which means my connection in Detroit will be very, very tight.

At least I still have a shot at making it.

(Check out these airport mistakes so many rookie flyers make.)

The Way I Fly Now

Which brings me to the way my flight bookings have changed, thanks to climate change. I no longer book connections of less than two hours. And I prefer connections of three hours.

This is a HUGE shift for me. I am one of those flyers who likes to get to the airport at the last minute, so I don’t have to spend hours cooling my heels at the gate.

Voluntarily adding hours to my travel time is one of those things I never thought I would do.

Yet, here I am.

Booking Connections

Since I fly out of O’Hare, I am lucky enough to have the options of a direct to just about anywhere in the world, including Paris.

But I booked this flight with a connection through Detroit because I’m flying economy. No luxurious lie-flat seat for this overnight flight. Instead, I’ll be in the back of an only-three-quarters-full airplane. That’s how us cheapos get lie-flat seats: book a seat in a four-across row where you get the whole row to yourself. Instant lie-flat seats!

At least it seemed like a super idea when I booked it. But if I miss the connection because of the weather delay, I’ll end up stuck in Detroit, waiting for the next Delta flight to Paris, likely the next day. And I’ll be crammed into the plane along with anyone else who misses this connection because of the uncooperative weather.

There’s one thing in my favor, though. The strong storms are heading east across Michigan and are predicted to hit Detroit around the time my DTW-CDG flight is scheduled to leave. Fingers crossed it will mean a ground stop in Detroit that will last long enough for me to sprint through the airport in time to make my Paris-bound flight!

Related read, 8 Tips to Help You Clear Airport Security Fast with Carry-On Only (Consider #4).

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How much time do you allow for airport connections? Have you always done it that way? What changes in your personal life are you making thanks to climate change?

We’re back, baby. We are back.

It’s been said that inspiration is what pulls you forward, generates enthusiasm and excitement, while motivation is what pushes you forward and kicks you in the butt to get you going in a certain direction. Inspiration is much more fun. It’s what drives ball players to be great, whether they are 12 or 22, artists to spend endless hours perfecting their art, and animal lovers to engage with their bestie-beasties in so many happy ways.

How Inspiration Works

Inspiration is loaded with long-term purpose and meaning, which takes precedence over whatever effort may be involved. Motivation is often short-term and takes us from task to task. This is fine and certainly necessary, but without a sense of the overall meaning that an activity has in our lives, we can lose ourselves in rote repetition and boredom.

And, just as importantly, we are depriving ourselves of blessed, happy longevity. According to numerous studies, a sense of purpose and meaning is what contributes most to our longevity, certainly to the happiness enjoyed in later years.

Find Your Joy

So, how do you get there? It’s not as complicated as one might think. Just go towards what gives you joy. Joy is a much deeper emotion than happiness. Happiness is great, but it is fleeting, and often dependent on outside conditions (like eating ice cream or watching a good movie). Joy relates to one’s inner life, with purpose, meaning and with living what is authentically you.

Take Cathy Gallagher, for example, who at 83, is doing what inspires her, what gives purpose and meaning to her life – teaching. This matters, because, although Cathy had taught grade school children for three decades (both in the U.S. and then in British Columbia), she was subjected to mandatory retirement when she turned 65, which was required in British Columbia at the time.

Cathy, whose grade-school students were her greatest joy, did not find a sense of purpose or meaning in retirement. Much to her surprise and delight, mandatory retirement was eventually “retired,” and with that Cathy, then 73, could return to teaching. Now, 10 years later, Cathy is still teaching, loving it, and is reputed to be the oldest active certified teacher in British Columbia.

What Inspires You?

For me, it’s competitive ballroom dancing, a passion I share with many my age (77) and older on the competitive floor. For you, it could be anything from growing roses to tutoring children to inventing something – whatever lifts your spirit and makes your heart sing.

The important thing is not to let age stop you from engaging in that which inspires you. There is no age limit on creativity or enthusiasm. Even physical limitations are not real limitations. Did you know there are ballroom competitions for wheelchair-bound dancers? There are all sorts of ways that you can find purpose, meaning and the rewards of happy longevity, regardless of any physical issues. All you need to do is start dreaming and imagining.

Need help? See what others are doing for ideas on what might light that fire within you.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What fills your life with a sense of purpose and meaning? Did you find your inspiration and purpose later in life? If so, how and what was it?