That flight changed me in a way no destination ever could. I stepped onboard tired and withdrawn, thinking only about getting comfortable and making the journey pass as quickly as possible. When I reclined my seat without a second thought, the soft voice of the pregnant woman behind me made me pause. She didn’t complain or ask for anything; the quiet strain in her voice was enough to make me rethink my actions. In that moment, I understood how easily we overlook the people around us when we rush through life.

By the time we landed, the lesson was clear: kindness isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about awareness. That small interaction showed me how powerful a simple act of consideration can be when we choose to pay attention. Since then, I travel differently. I slow down, I notice more, and I try to offer the kind of care I once ignored. Sometimes, the smallest choice can change more than a seat ever could.