Months of planning.  Weeks of anticipation.  Days of excitement. “Your passport is expired” are not the words you want to hear at the airport.  “Excuse me?” I said.  “Your passport is expired,” the agent at Chicago O’Hare replied.  I quickly realized that our family trip to Italy was in jeopardy because my eyes couldn’t decipher a 5 from a 6.

Sure there was a part of me that wanted to sit on the floor of the airport and cry.  Yes, I was mad – at myself for making such a mistake, but I knew I had a choice in how I was going to react in the moment.  So instead I asked, “What can I do?” My son anxiously waiting for the answer too.

The agent slide a piece of paper across the counter and said I could go to the Federal building downtown and try and get a new passport.  She generously put us on a flight for the following day and wished us luck.

It was 1:15 pm.  Downtown was an hour away by train and the office closed at 3:30.  Luggage in tow, we ran to catch the train.  After clearing security, I approached the window and was asked, “Do you have your form?” Right.  A form. I completed the form and returned to the window.  “Do you have your photo?” No I did not and to get one I had to go back out and down the block to the UPS store. More running.  At 3:29 I slid my form and photos and got the last ticket which meant I would get my passport.

I still marvel at the fact that in a mere few hours I had a new passport and we only missed one day of our trip.  And boy, did we have a story to tell when we got there and met the rest our our group.

Life is full of moments where things don’t go our way.   We can either let that set-back get us down or we can take action to do something about it.  This is the heart of resiliency.  I see this travel debacle as a teachable moment for my son, whom when faced with adversity, I hope will seek help, look for options, be resourceful and believe his actions can achieve his desired result.

Ciao!