On January 13, 2016, I used my wealth of Southwest points to purchase round trip tickets to Portland, OR for Esther, my dental hygienist and her sister to support their sister who was dealing with loss in a relationship. Over the past two, maybe three years, I have gifted/given away probably eight round trip tickets to family, friends, temporary coworkers (from my consultant days) and people I know through service type jobs, like Esther and Beth, my hair stylist.
How it works. I have never been directly asked for my points. In the past four years or so, I have learned the benefits of Active Listening <link> and it is a skill I practice in all my communications with other people and sometimes with my kittahs and neighborhood dogs. But seriously, it's not a noble thing. I have heard my own story and stories so much in my head, I know there is value in listening intently to other people. So, I listen. I don't plan my next response, I don't write my shopping list, I just listen. And so, I hear.
In all cases where I have gifted/given my SWA points for flights, I was able to hear the need in the story of the person just talking to me. I'm beginning to believe active listening can be felt by the person who is talking and it opens up the conversation to another, deeper level of communication, perhaps an increased vulnerability. One temporary work colleague flew to Seattle for a church conference, another was able to fly her mother in law across the county to surprise her husband on his 50th birthday. I flew a friend and her daughter to Tampa to see Taylor Swift, even.
In the style of "loaves and fishes", I always had enough points available to me when I wanted to use them for my own personal travel. This is truly "The Good Life."
Oh, and the title of this post... La Buena Vida - The Good Life - I had an appointment with Esther for a teeth cleaning today. Before the instruments went into my mouth, we talked, as usual, for a few moments, just catching up. She mentioned how grateful she remains for the gift of going to Portland to spend time with her sisters in the beginning of the year. I think her words were.... I remain so grateful. After my teeth were clean and sparkly, she went into another room in the office and came out with a bouquet of flowers in her hands for me. It wasn't until I was walking home, I noticed the words on the label - La Buena Vida - indeed!
How it works. I have never been directly asked for my points. In the past four years or so, I have learned the benefits of Active Listening <link> and it is a skill I practice in all my communications with other people and sometimes with my kittahs and neighborhood dogs. But seriously, it's not a noble thing. I have heard my own story and stories so much in my head, I know there is value in listening intently to other people. So, I listen. I don't plan my next response, I don't write my shopping list, I just listen. And so, I hear.
In all cases where I have gifted/given my SWA points for flights, I was able to hear the need in the story of the person just talking to me. I'm beginning to believe active listening can be felt by the person who is talking and it opens up the conversation to another, deeper level of communication, perhaps an increased vulnerability. One temporary work colleague flew to Seattle for a church conference, another was able to fly her mother in law across the county to surprise her husband on his 50th birthday. I flew a friend and her daughter to Tampa to see Taylor Swift, even.
In the style of "loaves and fishes", I always had enough points available to me when I wanted to use them for my own personal travel. This is truly "The Good Life."
Oh, and the title of this post... La Buena Vida - The Good Life - I had an appointment with Esther for a teeth cleaning today. Before the instruments went into my mouth, we talked, as usual, for a few moments, just catching up. She mentioned how grateful she remains for the gift of going to Portland to spend time with her sisters in the beginning of the year. I think her words were.... I remain so grateful. After my teeth were clean and sparkly, she went into another room in the office and came out with a bouquet of flowers in her hands for me. It wasn't until I was walking home, I noticed the words on the label - La Buena Vida - indeed!
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