It was less than one year ago that I was riding in this same seat in an American eagle plane.
I squeezed my ample sized hips into the seat and then squirmed around to get the seat belt in position to fasten. Much to my horror there was no way the buckle part of the seat belt was going to meet the other end.
I considered just throwing a blanket over my lap and risking whatever happens if you don’t buckle up. I was completely wedged into position and pretty confident that I was in no danger of falling out of the seat.
The rules got the best of me so gathered my courage and summoned the flight attendant. With as much pride as I could muster I mumbled, “I need a seat belt extender”. She didn’t hear me, and so I had to repeat those humiliating words again.
And then the strangest thing happened. The flight attendant made it seem like that was a very common thing for any passenger. As a matter of fact she convinced me that some of the darned seat belts are just ridiculously short.
Her support did not help the fact that in that moment I was totally depressed about coming to terms with knowing that I was indeed a morbidly obese middle aged woman. However her kindness did quell the humiliation of having to ask for the extender.
That day was pretty significant to say the least. I did not start dieting right away. However I did have one of those full blown, in the moment, reality checks that make you stop and contemplate, what the heck am I doing?
It was a very different type of contemplation. Typically I’m just hard on myself. However that particular day I did not beat on me for being fat. Instead I just found that I was really sad and embarrassed.
Fast forward about 10 months and 45 pounds thinner. I glide into my seat … 1A on an American Eagle. Grabbed both ends of the seat belt… buckled up and even cinched up the excess.
I can hardly express the joy of what seems to be such a little thing. I can use the tray table. Nothing is jamming into my leg or hip. It’s just awesome.
If you’ve never been overweight or in a position where you felt like you just didn’t fit… then this story probably doesn’t mean much to you.
I suspect though, that most people have had times in their life where they found themselves stuck in a very uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing situation. The sheer unknown of needing to ask for help of any kind can be so terrifying. And yet, for me, that flight attendant, a stranger, took it upon herself to make a very awkward moment OK. And somehow since then I have found a way to slowly but surely change my physical situation so that I never have to utter the words “I need a seat belt extender” ever again.
As a matter of fact… I trade humiliation for joy every single time I buckle up.
Listen, If you are waiting to ask for the help you need to take the next step in your life, your career, or just what needs to be done today, I encourage you to quit waiting. If you won’t start today, then decide when-what day?
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