A Divine Appointment at 32,000 Feet
On a 6:55 AM flight to London, the woman beside me turned anxiously in her seat. "Mind if we chat? I get nervous during takeoff and landing."
"Of course! I love chatting!" I bubbled.
There was a peculiar intimacy about the conversation. I can't decide if it's the shared vulnerability of being suspended between earth and sky or the permission we give ourselves to be honest with people we think we'll never see again.
Whatever it was, she had that rare gift of making you feel like you were talking to your lifelong friend. So, when she asked about my dreams, I confided:
"Oh, I'm trying to be a writer..." but before I could downplay my goals, my husband interjected:
"She's not trying – she is a writer. She has a published book and a current book deal, and her manuscript is due in January! She just did a writing retreat where she wrote an essay about infertility. Her writing group loved it! We're here so she can land more opportunities to get paid for her writing! You should read her stuff!"
“Oh my God,” she chuckled, “marry this man if you haven’t already!” Her laughter melted into genuine curiosity, and I found myself pouring out the dreams I usually keep close to my chest.
I admitted I'd just quit social media to focus on my craft, that I'm interested in travel writing, and decided to fly all the way from Texas to attend a big travel summit where I could pitch my talents to “big wigs in suits.”
“Oh… That’s brave,” she says with an approving nod.
"I guess. Honestly, I'm nervous. Most travel companies want influencer-geared content: reels, listicle blogs, stuff that pushes over-consumption… I get it" I explained, “but I want to tell deeper stories."
"Like?"
"Like..." I took a deep breath because I knew the following words would become water, rushing out faster than I could catch them.
"In a dream world, I'd spend a month in… let’s say… Iceland! I’d talk with historians and locals, then partner with the Icelandic Tourism Board to tell important stories. Maybe through a documentary, maybe I'll publish a short travel guide, or maybe I'll write advertisement scripts for local companies! I won't know for sure until I get there, and that's the hard part. I know I’m well versed, but I can't ask people to 'fly me out and then find out'."
After twenty minutes of rambling, I said, "Okay! We're off the ground now. So, enough about me! What’s now your name?! What brings you to London?"
The Moment Dreams Take Flight
A slow smile spread across her face like a story reaching its perfect ending.
"Well," she gestured to the seats around us, "I'm Anna, the Director of Marketing for an Icelandic travel company. That's our Sales Director behind us and our CEO in front. We're headed to the same summit."
My heart stopped.
"And we'd love to have you tour Iceland for two weeks. Fully funded. Write it your way."
We spent the rest of the time talking about my trip to Iceland. She told me which restaurant owners she’d connect me with, the Christmas traditions I could document, and the “secret” driving routes I could take around the island. I was speechless the rest of the way.
A few minutes of authentic connection led to one life-changing opportunity. That's the thing about dreams – they're terrifying to voice until suddenly they're not.
Yesterday taught me that being 'loud' about my art doesn't require a spotlight or a stage. Sometimes it's as simple as speaking with conviction to a stranger who turns out to be anything but.
Your Turn: Divine Moments ✨
Breaking Free: The Containment Complex
For years, I've suffered from what I've come to call The Containment Complex — a defense mechanism where we become our own gatekeepers, carefully controlling and containing our true aspirations.
Unlike imposter syndrome where we question our abilities, The Containment Complex is about building walls around our wildest ambitions, packaging them in smaller, more "sensible" boxes before sharing them with others.
As a successful marketing consultant, I contained my dreams of being a writer because I didn't think people would see me as anything else. I became my own gatekeeper, carefully controlling which dreams I let breathe in public spaces. "I'm trying to be a writer," I'd say, as if my published book and current book deal were just happy accidents rather than manifestations of who I truly am.
But something miraculous happens when we let our dreams escape their contained spaces… when we stop being the prison guards of dreams. Sometimes, it takes a stranger's genuine curiosity, a spouse's proud advocacy, or yes, even a serendipitous plane ride to remind us that our dreams deserve to run wild.
So, the next time you're tempted to downplay your dreams, remember: the person sitting next to you might just be holding the key to making them come true.
4 Ways The Containment Complex Shows up.
You contain your dream by always finding the safer path because you're afraid you won't be able to handle failure if you try for something bigger.
Your go-to phrase is "realistically."
Example: "I want to photograph for National Geographic but realistically, I'll just volunteer at the local animal shelter"
You contain your dream by minimizing what you've already achieved, because deep down you worry that claiming your success means you'll have to live up to even higher expectations.
Your go-to phrase is "I’m trying."
Example: "I’m trying to be a great painter!” While changing lives with your art.
You contain your dreams by keeping them hidden because sharing your dreams makes them feel real — and real dreams can really fail.
Your go-to phrase is.. nothing. You never say a thing.
Example: You auditioned for a movie, but you didn’t ask your friends for prayers, support or encouraging words. They’ll have no idea you auditioned unless you get the part.
You're always waiting for the perfect moment because you’re afraid that taking action before everything is perfect might lead to failure or disappointment.
Your go-to phrase is "but first I need to..."
Example: "I'd love to start that podcast but first I need better equipment..."
Which one are you? 🤔
The Power of Your “Yes”
"With every decision, with every breath, with every choice I make each day, I'm making a statement about who I am and what I'm capable of." - Oprah Winfrey
This post is an invitation to join me in this lifelong practice of saying yes to something greater than ourselves.
Yes to God's whispers, even when - especially when - they seem impossible.
Yes to surrendering our carefully laid plans for His surprising path.
Yes to letting our dreams run wild, knowing they were planted in our hearts for a purpose.
Yes to being seen in our fullness.
Yes to believing something wonderful could be waiting around the corner.
Each day brings us opportunities to say yes to something that takes us closer to our dreams, closer to joy, closer to our God-given purpose. Sometimes, those yeses feel scary. Sometimes they feel too big. Sometimes, they come disguised as coincidences, like a conversation with a stranger on a plane.
Sometimes, that yes will be small, like admitting that you're not just "trying" to be a writer - you are one. And sometimes, like on that 6:55AM flight to London, that yes will change everything.
But whether your yes is tiny or transformative - it’s a step toward living the life your were created for.
Ways to Support & Share 💫
Today’s Challenge: Highlight your favorite quote from today’s newsletter and then click “restack quote” to post it on your feed or “share quote” to send to someone who might like reading it!
Don’t want to do that? So worries! You can also:
💭 Share Your Story: Leave a thoughtful comment about your own experience with The Containment Complex or a moment when saying "yes" changed everything. This community grows stronger when we share authentically.
💌 Submit Privately: Submit your question to our new weekly advice column if there's something you'd prefer to discuss privately. Sometimes, the bravest “yes” is asking for help!
❤️ Show Some Love: If this piece spoke to you, tap the heart. It helps others find this message and, honestly, it encourages me to keep writing from my heart to yours!.
