Today, my work day started at 5:09 this morning when I arrived at the Portland International Airport for my flight, departing at 6AM. Somehow, thanks to the kindness of the people at the Delta ticket counter, as well as some short lines, I managed to make it on my plane while it was boarding without it being some kind of emergency. I was fashionably late, but still on time. Then, even though the plane arrived in Salt Lake City about ten minutes early, I was still about twenty minutes late to the Domo Bootcamp event that inaugurated Domopalooza. I snagged one of the last remaining seats and was my usual gregarious self with those around me. Even given my somewhat hurried state today, I counted how many strangers I randomly initiated a conversation with in the airport and it was at least half a dozen, including a brave boy wearing a Seattle Sounders t-shirt, a black woman about my age who was returning from a trip to visit family in Portland to her home in Salt Lake City, an elderly woman with too many bags going to Alabama for a funeral and a trip to see some relatives in the hospital for renal failure, and a friendly TSA employee at security, as well as someone whose wallet fell out of the container at the x-ray because I was a bit of a klutz while collecting my backpack. That is a lot of random people to talk to, just because they happened to be around me. It is strange how I am compelled to be friendly to anyone who is within my personal space, and how upsetting I find it when people are continually in my personal space and are not friendly.

Today was the first time I had flown since my memorable trip back from Thailand [1]. In terms of travel, it was pretty easy for the most part, except that both at dinner and on the plane I kept on getting passed leavened bread that I had to turn down. There was some turbulence towards the end of the flight, as we descended into Salt Lake City, but otherwise it was a pleasant flight. The taxi driver from the airport to the hotel was friendly, the food at the hotel restaurants was excellent, if a little spendy (I would not normally spend $36 for some lamb chops, but since it’s been comped, I enjoyed them thoroughly), and it was nice to get to know at least a few of my fellow conference attendees and the Domopalooza staff. As far as meeting my expectations, I consider them met.

I often ponder the relationship between different aspects of life. In looking at the lessons of data visualization in the boot camp this morning, I was struck by how relevant the lessons from business are to life in general. Some of the lessons seemed rather pointed when applied to a personal relevance, like focusing on those aspects of life that are both powerful and that we can influence, rather than wasting time and frustration on that which we cannot do anything about. Likewise, the cycles of continuous improvement are matters of interest not only for my work life, but for the general sort of journey of growth and development that I am on overall. Life is richer when it is not compartmentalized, and when insights and reflections in one area of life can be easily transferred to another area of life.

As I prepare for the opening event that officially kicks off Domopalooza this evening, I have much to reflect upon. Included in that is the fact that I have a great deal to be grateful for that I do not always recognize or appreciate. My coworker pointed out to me, as I discussed the way I came to learn about data science and how to do my job, that not everyone could do what I do. Not everyone was as open to learning, as willing to venture into the unknown and take such risks, or was as curious about gaining new skills. These are gifts I cannot take a great deal of credit for, and which I do not know if I am thankful enough for. Perhaps I can start now. Of course, no day would be complete without a retelling of the loot collected so far during my trip. So far, the collection of swag [2] from this trip includes a backpack, two t-shirts, a hoodie, and a cd from the dj of tonight’s reception. Swag is always something to be thankful for.

[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/the-longest-day/

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/check-my-swag/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/nobody-uses-an-umbrella-in-oregon/