Airports provide a wonderful place to people-watch and I took full advantage during my recent trip. One can learn important lessons when “alone in a crowd.”

As I waited to board my flight, I watched a line of passengers walk out of the jetway and into the terminal. Due to the setup of the waiting area, it was not entirely clear what to do once you entered the terminal – do you go left or right? As long as there was someone ahead choosing a direction, those behind would follow – often without even looking up. As soon as that stream of people was interrupted, however, the disembarking travelers were on their own, figuring out for themselves which way to go.

As I watched, my immediate thought was that the people following without looking were doing things right. After all, they weren’t wasting time, right? As I considered it, though, I realized that the people looking up were the real winners.

What I was seeing was a snapshot of society. How many people shuffle through their lives without ever looking up, just following in the footsteps of those before them? Those people may never know what other paths are available to them. Those not blindly following could explore which path they chose to take, their possiblities far exceeding those of the others. Looking up now and then seems like a wise move.

So, put me in the “explorer” camp. I may not be the first to the finish, but who cares? Life isn’t a destination.

I want to make sure I don’t miss anything.