I thought I was flying first class…

Y’all, I’m type A. I also really like to know what I’m doing. Probably not super surprising. But this becomes a bit of a struggle when I travel.

I park in the same spot.
I follow the same routine.
And I convince myself I’m in control.

(I know. I know. Jokes on me.)

So this week I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and put myself on the standby list for an earlier flight. That’s right. Your girl did something different.

And somehow… I got called up.

When the agent said my name, I swear it was like I’d just been called up to the major leagues. The poor guy behind the counter had absolutely no idea why I was so visibly excited.

I felt like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2 when he uses his dad’s credit card at the Plaza Hotel and whispers, “It worked.” 

The agent hands me my boarding pass. 

Seat 2B!

I’ve never been that close to the cockpit in my life.

So naturally, I text my sweet friend Nicole and tell her that if I’m sitting in first class I will lose it. I’ve never flown first class before…how fancy….and apparently I should get on standby all the time.

She kindly, but honestly, replies: “I don’t think Southwest has first class.” 

I lost it. I laughed so hard that the whole section started looking at me. Leave it to me to finally make it to the front of a plane… where there actually isn’t first class.

Feeling like a complete phony who somehow snuck into a club I don’t belong in, I board the plane with group one.

Except my row isn’t second…It’s first.

And so I walked right past it. 

The flight attendant stops me and asks, “What seat are you looking for?”

Suddenly I’m panicking about the setup like Michael Scott yelling, “WHAT’S THE PROCEDURE?” while the entire line waits for me to get my life together.

Also… did y’all know you don’t get to keep your backpack up in the front?

Because I did not.

This poor woman is patiently waiting to shove my backpack into the overhead bin while I stand there like a contestant on a game show being asked to pick the one item I’d take to a deserted island.

I had about 10 seconds to decide what to grab out of my bag.

I chose my laptop.

And immediately regretted it as I watched my backpack (FULL of my snacks) disappear into the overhead bin.

If anyone on that plane was wondering whether or not I had ever sat in the front row before…They had their answer.

But you know what? In true Cassy fashion, I embraced every bit of it. Unapologetically.

And I made sure to laugh at myself the entire time.

Because here’s the thing I kept thinking about afterward:

So many of us hesitate to step into new spaces because we’re afraid we won’t know what we’re doing.

We worry we’ll look inexperienced.
Out of place.
Like we don’t belong.

But the truth is…

Every single person who looks comfortable in the front row today was once the person awkwardly figuring it out for the first time.

Leadership, growth, courage…none of it happens once you’ve conquered the room.

It happens the moment you’re willing to walk into it anyway.

Even if you’re a little confused. Even if you pick the wrong item. Even if your snacks get shoved into the overhead bin.

So if you find yourself in a new seat this week…a new role, a new room, a new opportunity…

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Laugh when you can.
Learn during the chaos.
And sit in the front anyway.

You might be surprised where you end up. 

Big hugs & so much love,

Cassy

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