Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement 3960: What Would Buddha Do On Southwest Airlines? by Allison Carmen on Acceptance in Uncertainty
Mar 28, 2026
A traveler’s seating squabble sparks a look at everyday selfishness and how it slips under our radar. Stories from Buddhist practice illustrate choosing patience, gratitude, and small acts of kindness. The conversation highlights personal blind spots like saving seats and rushing through life, and invites noticing brief moments to act with more care.
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Southwest Flight Seat Saving Story
- Jen experienced cramped seating on a Southwest flight because some passengers paid for early boarding and saved seats for friends.
- Allison Carmen used Jen's story to question the ethics of informal seat-saving and prompt a spiritual reflection.
Dining Line Lesson With Sharon Salzberg
- Elizabeth ate lunch with Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg and asked Sharon to find seats while she stood in line to order.
- Sharon pointed out that sitting before those ahead in line was inconsiderate, revealing Elizabeth's blind spot.
Invisible Selfishness Harms Social Trust
- Small acts of self-interest, like saving seats, often come from autopilot and don't mean people are 'bad.'
- Allison suggests these behaviors undermine a caring society and that awareness can expose invisible selfishness.