Scheme of Things
Fastening Seatbelts
By Nan Russell
May 2, 2008 - 2:48:03 PM

There was turbulence on the plane. Not the soft, rolling bumps that gently remind you that you're thirty-one thousand feet above the ground in a metal cylinder, but the shake side to side, sudden-drop kind that flip-flops your stomach. The announcement was made several times for passengers to stay seated with seatbelts fastened and return to their seats quickly since more turbulence was expected. The seat belt sign stayed illuminated.

Still, people ignored the verbal warnings and lighted overhead signage, as the bumpy ride intensified. It wasn't one or two people who ignored the flight attendant's continued reminders to remain seated, but dozens.

Since I was in the last row directly across from the coach cabin restroom, I found myself recurrently "battered" by those bobbing down the aisle or emerging from the tiny compartment and catching their "fall" on my seatback. Increasingly I found myself resenting these passengers who disregarded the airline's directive and ignored the potential risk of their actions on fellow passengers.

With her persistent pleas ignored, the flight attendant eventually gave up trying to control their behavior. But their rule-breaking approach struck a disharmonious chord with me. I've been noticing this growing anarchy-mindedness for awhile now. It bothers me, not just personally, but as a mirror to our societal direction.

Statements to remain seated or not use electronic devices constitute mere suggestions for some. Just like red traffic lights or stop signs must only hint at what action to take. Or living-room commentary in movie theatres or concerts clearly mark that you don't care if you're impacting another's enjoyment.

When did it become okay to put your needs ahead of everyone around you? When did it become normal to ignore rules designed to support and protect the whole? And when did it become common that your desire to get there two minutes sooner is worth risking another's well being by running a light or speeding in a children-packed neighborhood?

I missed that moment when self-absorption trumped self-awareness, and ego beat-out soulful. Still, I can't help noticing this shift away from community and interconnected whole to a narrowed perspective of self-indulgence. Is this the society we want? I don't think so, yet in the busyness of life it's quietly taking root.

So, in the scheme of things, I think it's time we recalibrate our society's pendulum towards the greater good; time to show up and offer the best of who we are to the world; and time to "keep our seat belts fastened."

(c) 2008 Nan S. Russell.  All Rights Reserved.

Nan S. Russell is the author of "Hitting Your Stride: Your Work, Your Way." More about Nan and her work can be found at www.nanrussell.com.