Nighttime Flights And Sparkly Cities | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Nighttime Flights And Sparkly Cities

Perspective from 10,000 feet.

26
Nighttime Flights And Sparkly Cities
Addison Jarecki

I love flying. It's always been my favorite form of travel. Ever since I was little, it always felt like a trip was more special if it involved time at the airport. Most people see the airport and air travel as a time consuming hassle, but I love every minute of it. It's exhilarating to travel.

My favorite time to fly is at night, over big cities. As the plane climbs into the dark nighttime sky, the cities that only a few hours ago seemed impossibly large suddenly fit within the visual confines of a rounded airplane window. There are not enough words to describe how cool this experience is. On my recent flight home from the east coast, I began thinking: the fact that you can see where huge cities like Boston and New York City begin and end and all their suburbs from a few thousand feet up puts a lot of things about life into perspective.

Looking out of the window over the wing and engine of the plane on my most recent trip, the realization came to me: the world is so big. It is absolutely massive. And we are so, so tiny.


10,000 feet below me were millions of humans, all of whom lived this day in a million different ways. They all have their families and friends and jobs and things they are dealing with. Somewhere down there, someone was having the best day of their life, someone was having the worst. A performance of "Hamilton" would have been wrapping up, while the night life in New York was just getting started. There is so much happening in the world all at once that we cannot even begin to fathom the delicate balance of it all.

Flying above those massive, sparkling, crowded cities with all those people experiencing the day in their own unique way, feeling their own emotions and handling their own lives makes me realize that the things that feel like the end of the world to me are so minuscule. The world is huge, the things I deal with on a daily basis are tiny, and definitely manageable. Nothing that happens is ever as big as it seems. There's so much to life, so much of the world left to explore, and it just blows my mind to think about how gigantic the world really is. My plans are big; my problems, stressors, and issues are small.

Maybe I seem dramatic, maybe I am just exhausted, but believe me when I say if you ever need to get some perspective on life, schedule your next flight for a little later in the day. Not only will you get to see major cities all ablaze and glittery; you'll have your own thoughts on how big this world is. Forget about the things happening in life, eat your little airline peanut packet, and just marvel at the speed of life happening below you. It's relaxing, this new worldview you get from a plexiglass 7x11 rounded, double-paned window. If you get as existential and excited as I do, you land feeling like you can tackle whatever you're facing. Make the most out of the adventure- personally and at your destination.

Boarding pass in hand, it's time to go take on the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188523
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13865
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457080
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26155
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments