An airport is a place like none other. So much activity. So much to observe. So much of everything happening quickly. A world of structured chaos.

While waiting for a connecting flight at the airport, I sat at my gate and settled in to watch the activity all around me.  At first glance, it seemed like a never ending procession of humanity flowing by. Blonds, brunettes, redheads, grey hair, white hair, thin hair, full hair, brushed hair, tangled hair. Backpacks, luggage, strollers, purses, bags. Coats, shorts, hats, tees, sweaters, dresses, pants, parkas.  Dressed up, dressed down, dressed wrong, dressed just right. All in a transitional state of motion to their next destination.

Focusing in, I watched a little girl in pigtails dance happy circles around her mother while she looked frantically at the departure board to find their gate. An older couple holding hands and resting in their chairs while clutching their luggage and their tickets. A younger couple sitting together but not together. A mother with three children trying to keep them fed and happy and contained in a small space.  A teen on his phone seemingly oblivious to the world around him. People with joys, troubles, hearts full, hearts broken. All these people with a story, a dream, a past, a future.

Every person is different, but we are also so much the same. People need to respect each other more for the individuality that makes us who we are. For without that, the world would certainly be a much less wonderful place to live in.