Travel to Dallas
After spending time in Dubai, one thing became clear.
Connection matters.
Engaging with people.
Serving people.
Giving someone your full attention while you’re with them.
Doing the work without shortcuts.
All of it matters.
It makes us better. And it leaves people better than we found them.
That realization is what led me to Dallas.
I wanted to meet my Dallas-based team in person. I talked it through with my husband, and he agreed. The timing felt right, so I booked the trip.
A few weeks later, we were on our way.
Leaving Atlanta was not without its challenges.
We had just come through weeks of TSA agents not being paid, and callouts were increasing. Because of that, we adjusted and arrived at the airport at 4:00 a.m., which turned out to be the right decision.
It took about 30 minutes to check bags, longer than usual. Delta was collecting luggage directly at the counter, which slowed things down.
Security took another hour and ten minutes. Manageable for us, but the situation changed quickly.
About 15 minutes after we got in line, the airport began to fill rapidly. Within a short time, lines stretched through baggage claim and out toward the doors. You could see the staff actively managing the overflow as it built in real time.
Arriving even an hour later would have been a very different experience.
It was clear that many travelers would miss their flights that day.
But for us, everything worked out.
We made it to Dallas without issue.
Meeting with my team was exactly what I had hoped for. They were welcoming, engaged, and ready to connect. We had a full schedule ahead.
And it all started with a simple decision.
Show up. In person.
