Just a couple of hours ago, I was on the plane, ready to fly home from London. The flight had been put off by a few hours so it felt good to be so close to take-off. I had my iPad in place and a new book to read. Then, over the loudspeaker came the pilot’s voice: “ We are sorry to tell you we must cancel this flight because there’s still something wrong with the plane. ” The passengers’ reactions that announcement led to were interesting. One man close to me began to argue with an air hostess. A couple in another row complained loudly. A businessman in a black suit even kicked the seat in front of him. Yet some passengers acted differently. An elderly gentleman smiled as he helped others take their bags down from the shelf. A teenager, rather than trying to rush off the plane like most of the other passengers, stopped to help a woman with disability. The lady sitting next to me laughed and said: “ Hey, it’s not the end of the world, ” before she made a call to her kids and shared her adventure with them. No life is perfect; mine certainly isn’t. We all must face something unexpected, both large and small. You and I have the power to choose to rise above the external circumstances (外部环境) . We always have the choice to be strong and kind when we are in trouble. My seatmate was right—things didn’t get that terrible. Anyway, I am safe, I have my health. I have two wonderful children. I have work I love and so much to be grateful for. Sure I now have to wait a few hours to catch the next flight home.