This is a short story of how one of those Fast Feelings affected me and how I handled the emotion so that I didn’t stay in it. The emotion is sadness.
This last week I had the opportunity to go to a 5 day Thrive training conference in Denver where I learn about relationships, emotions, and how to deal with them. This was my 3rd time to be able to go and I specifically wanted to be with the people I knew and all the other people who would be there doing the same training. I had planned well in advance and bought my airline ticket.
I caught the early flight so that the timing would mesh with the light rail system schedule in Denver and I would be able to arrive at the event in time to see all my people that evening as we signed up and spent time together before class training started the next day.
So everything was going great! I had done this twice before and it should be a piece of cake. I caught my early morning flight and arrived just in time to catch the light rail to my motel and the conference. I was in high spirits eagerly anticipating the evening of connection with my people! The light rail train rolled along and the stops clicked by. I made my required transfer at one stop and eagerly awaited my stop.
Then, I began to hear stops being called out that I did not recognize. My stomach began to sink and my breath got shorter… The next stop was another one I did not remember. The time was getting away and my scheduled arrival time was rapidly vanishing. I felt myself sinking into sadness. A few more stops I didn’t recognize and then the announcement that we were at the end of the line and everyone need to get off. I was the only one left and feeling very low. I managed to get the attention of the conductor and ask him how to get to my stop. He looked at me and said “you are on the wrong train, you need to be on E line. Go across the tracks and wait for a train that says E line.” I felt very sad and dejected. For all my good planning, I was going to miss the evening with my people.
A while later the E line train showed up and I got on. We went down the tracks and finally arrived at my stop. I walked the four blocks to the hotel thinking I would just spend the evening alone in my room. As I entered the hotel and signed in a lady asked, “Are you going to the Thrive conference? If you are the last shuttle is about to leave.” I felt this rush of tingles through my body. YES YES!!! I yelled excitedly. I threw my suitcase in my room and dashed down where they were waiting for me! I felt hot, was breathing rapidly and gave a big sigh of relief….. My sadness evaporated …. Oh wow, Thank You Jesus! I am going to have the joy of being with my people after all!