When Life Puts You in a Holding Pattern

The seagull outside my window this morning wasn't just flying—it was hovering, suspended in a perfect balance between the ocean breeze pushing against its wings and its own determination to stay put. For nearly five minutes, this bird maintained its position, neither advancing nor retreating, just... hanging.

I couldn't help but laugh at the universe's timing. After last week's airport marathon, where I watched plan after plan dissolve into the ether of cancellations and delays, this feathered friend seemed to be offering a master class in what I'd just lived through: the art of the holding pattern.

Last week, my first flight was canceled. Then my second. My third was delayed. Eventually, I made it home! The journey that should have taken a few hours stretched into a day and a half of uncertainty.

Given Newark's notorious air traffic control challenges, staying in a holding pattern wasn't surprising. I lost some time at home with my girls. I lost a sense of ease. I spent an inordinate amount of time shuffling all the things. But here's what I gained:

• Extra time exploring Milwaukee's hidden gems

• Unexpected bonding with a new colleague over terrible airport coffee

• Some peaceful downtime with a book I'd been meaning to read for months

It reminds me of what Shannon Russell shared on last week's podcast: "Leaving television... I did feel like, oh my gosh, who am I afterwards? But I, for whatever reason, also felt like, nope, I'm gonna figure it out and celebrate it." Shannon's willingness to see her unexpected career shift not as a setback but as an opportunity to grow resonated deeply with me.

She's right. And it's not just about finding silver linings (though those help). It's about recognizing that our relationship with disappointment itself shapes our capacity for courage.

In the airport, I watched people respond to the same news in wildly different ways. Some turned red-faced, demanding solutions that simply didn't exist. Others immediately pulled out laptops, pivoting to make the most of unexpected time. And some (myself included) cycled through stages—first frustration, then resignation, and eventually a curious openness to whatever might unfold.

What if we viewed these disruptions not as obstacles to our courage but as opportunities to practice it in real time?

This week, I'm playing with the idea of "productive suspension"—finding value in those moments when we're neither moving forward nor backward, but simply maintaining position against the winds of circumstance.

Maybe you're waiting for important news that keeps getting delayed, stuck in a project phase that's taking longer than expected, or navigating a relationship or career transition that feels like it's in limbo.

What might we notice if we approach our next holding pattern with curiosity instead of resistance?

What wisdom might we be gathering in this pause that will serve our journey later?

I'd love to hear what emerges for you. Hit reply and share your thoughts—the conversation is always richer when we build our courage capital together.

With you in both motion and stillness,

Aransas

P.S. Speaking of unexpected gifts—this week's Uplifters podcast guest Shannon Russell shares how leaving her TV production career (where she once turned down interviewing Taylor Swift to make it home for bedtime!) led her to become an entrepreneur and coach. As Shannon puts it, "It all works out better than you could have expected." You won't want to miss this conversation about finding your path even when the map keeps changing!

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