The Hard Right

We planned everything meticulously to ensure we made it to the cruise at 4 PM. Our strategy was foolproof: a direct flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, packing everything in carry-ons to avoid the time lost waiting at baggage claim. Once we scheduled a Lyft to get us to the port, we were set to arrive at 3:15 PM. Easy.

Once on the plane at the airport, we were in good shape. Then came the first challenge: a 30-minute delay due to thunderstorms delaying landings in Orlando. Yikes! That would make it tight, but we should still be okay. Unfortunately, the gate delay extended to a full 45 minutes. We were getting very nervous now. I decided to explain our situation to the people ahead of us in line on the plane (we were more than halfway back!) so we’d be first in line when they opened the doors. Fortunately, everyone made space, and we were waiting at the door. Tick, tick, tick, and finally, the doors opened. The flight attendant wished us luck.

We ran through the airport with a brief pause to schedule the Lyft. If everything went right from here, we’d be a few minutes late, and I WOULD talk our way in. The Lyft was 10 minutes away… more time lost, but still possible. Then, the driver went to the wrong terminal! I called four times with no answer. At this point, we were cooked! It was over. What do you do?

The Hard Right: get a beer, check earlier flights back home. None. Okay, let’s get an Airbnb. Amy quickly found one, and we now had a vacation. We made it work by walking around to restaurants and a few breweries, got a rental, and hit Smyrna Beach, which was beautiful. We made great memories for sure.

What do you do when things go wrong? Make it right with the Hard Right. When faced with unexpected challenges, it’s easy to get frustrated and let the situation ruin your plans. But sometimes, the best course of action is to pivot, adapt, and make the most of what you have.

Our cruise plans fell through, but we ended up having a fantastic time anyway.

It’s all about perspective and making the hard right choices when things don’t go as planned.