“Traveling is getting worse,” a colleague said recently. I disagree. Look at history and remind yourself that travelers once had to deal with everything from cannibalism to frequent hijackings. A flight delay, lost bag, or traffic jam are small stakes, in comparison to being eaten by a friend or unexpectedly winding up in Cuba.

Traveling can only go so smoothly. I control what I can, but glitches–whether they’re preventable or not–will happen. It’s inevitable.

There are two ways to respond: Lose your shit, melt down, and possibly end up on TikTok as an example of “that guy,” or this:

• Stay calm. Whatever you’re dealing with will pass. And there’s always a solution, even though it may not be the one you want.
• That gate agent you’re tempted to put on blast? Remember point #1 and remain calm. They aren’t responsible for whatever misfortune you’re facing. And they can’t magically fix it. But, they can make life easier for nice people. I’ve scored free seat upgrades, rental car discounts, free coffee, the last ticket out of town, and more because I approach staff with calm empathy. 
• Those fellow travelers who are on the edge of a tantrum? Right — stay calm. A sympathetic smile is fine, but don’t engage and get drawn into their drama. While they’re panicking, make a plan and work it.