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reniimodisette • October 14, 2022

I am blessed to have celebrated another birthday! Especially since there was a time, I thought I would not make it to 50. Now that I have made it to 51, I am thankful daily. However, amid the celebration, I was stressed about this birthday. Like really worried, and I think it due to my impending travel. Probability of delayed flight and delayed gratification.



Since starting my mindfulness practice, I wanted to remain fully aware of the discomfort I’ve either run from or avoided. In fact, I’ve sought to lead with love and express my thoughts to others in kindness. I’d be lying if I wrote that I’ve always been successful at leading with love. But I am grateful that each day is a new day to try again.


As I reflect on this birthday, I’ve noticed I did not react based the stress of others. For instance, my birthday celebration included a brief getaway. With inflation, airline tickets are not cheap, and traveling may require driving outside the usual and customary to another city to take a flight. Well, that was me.

There were no good flights from Tampa to my Sint Maarten, so I drove to Orlando the day before to take a 6 am flight to JFK to connect to my Caribbean destination. Furthermore, I sat on the tarmac for 2 hours only for the flight to be canceled. As you can imagine, I missed my connection. Definite delayed gratification!

Although upsetting, what could I do? Nothing besides trying to book another flight. Well, I approach a representative to ask where to go. I kid you not…. THIS HAPPENED. Without looking up, the airline desk employee raised her arm and then pointed her index finger, saying, “I can’t help any of you. Go down there to find out what to do.”

Let me pause for a moment to walk through the reaction from my body:


  • My brain: Oh no! What in the ham sandwich on pumpernickel bread, no mayo, add mustard, yes, I like tomato is going on?
  • The tightening in my gut: Frustrated. I have no idea where she is pointing while thinking please don’t pass gas!
  • The tension line on the side of my face: This is some foolishness


Two additional hours later + Following the two hours on the tarmac + waiting 20 minutes at a different counter for the person to come back = no flights to the island on Saturday. Consequently, I must book for the next day.

First and foremost, I don’t know what the individuals at airlines go through after a flight is canceled. Moreover, I am sure cancellations and missed connections create as much stress for them as it does for travelers. Despite the unfavorable situation, I met great people waiting in the line. In fact, I hope to keep in contact with them. Obvious delayed gratification! The three things I did to remain calm and not react to foolishness were:


  • Breathe
  • Put the shoe on the other foot
  • With the help of others, I found some joy in meeting new people


Although a stressful situation, and wanting to be where I wanted to be, I take pleasure in knowing that I was okay with accepting that the circumstances were out of my control. I made it!


Most importantly, the beaches were great! Excluding the call from my daughter about the door to pick up her son. I am sending her the charge for that call!

If you are looking to find better coping mechanisms in stressful situations like the airport, at work, or at home then I am here to help! Schedule a free consultation!

LEAN INTO:CouRagE EMBRACE: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance

By Renii Modisette • December 27, 2024
We begin to say goodbye to 2024 with cooler temperatures and yuletide attitudes as December ends. One thing is sure: self-regulation starts with the Self despite all else. In the last blog for 2024, I explore the sixth and final virtue, Courage, as well as three character strengths: Honesty, Bravery, and Perseverance, with the pendulum swinging both ways as a reminder we can make it through the first starting with Self. A great conclusion to the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I had initially planned to finish this series in October, but I found myself overwhelmed with school and work. I had convinced myself that I could push through despite feeling fatigued. However, I realized that the virtue of Courage also encompasses the character strength of Honesty. It was time for me to be honest with myself, which meant reevaluating the narrative I had created in my head. So, I took a break and reframed my internal dialogue to accept my revised story to remind myself that the pendulum swings both ways, so I must put myself first and focus on myself to overcome a self-imposed narrative that pushing through is the best way. I challenge you, amidst this season of giving and gratitude, to be honest with yourSELF—it's a personal journey. Is being honest with yourself a sign of bravery? Depending on who you ask, you might get different answers. In my opinion, yes, we are often harder on ourSELVES than anyone else is. Bravery is usually defined as resilience, facing fears, and not shrinking in the face of a threat or challenge. So, why can't SELF be a challenge? To help you navigate this solitary journey of self-awareness, consider the following statement:  "I AM in charge of how I react to others. I choose to respond in a positive way."

Where are you on the tightrope? MTO Lean-in Series, Part IV

By Renii Modisette • October 13, 2024
Hello October! Q4 is in full swing, with MTO KPIs still at the forefront. It feels like I was saying "Happy New Year" just yesterday. Towards the end of June, I began the MTO Lean-in Series, which focuses on character strengths and virtues from the VIA Institute. I learned about the character strengths and virtues while completing my Positive Psychology Practitioner studies and found them intriguing, especially in relation to enhancing my mindfulness practice. So far, I've covered Temperance, Transcendence, Humanity, and Justice. This month, I'll be discussing the fifth virtue, Wisdom, as well as three character strengths: Judgment, Curiosity, and Perspective. I'll then conclude the series with the sixth virtue in the November blog post. For more information on VIA's character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute website at https://www.viacharacter.org. WISDOM Let’s begin with I've coined the Wisdom Tightrope when discussing the virtue of Wisdom because it involves a balancing act depending on the situation. The first character strength, Judgment, is rooted in critical thinking to counteract faulty thinking and biased opinions. When overused, Judgment can lead to narrow-mindedness, and when underused, one isn't reflective enough. Ironically, it is often frowned upon to judge ourselves and others, yet our analytical mind somehow gets in the way, which allows us to debate whether something that is frowned upon should be up for discussion.

MTO Lean In Series: Part III

By Renii Modisette • September 2, 2024
This month's blog post features Part III of the MTO Lean in Series. In this edition, we discuss the virtue of Justice and two-character strengths. To learn more about VIA character strengths, please visit the VIA Institute.
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