On a flight, I started watching an action movie. The passenger next to me, with his son, tapped my shoulder, “Turn it off. My kid doesn’t need to see violence.” I switched it off, and he thought he won, until I noticed the discomfort behind his request. At first, I felt slightly annoyed—after all, I had chosen the movie quietly, using my headphones, and wasn’t disturbing anyone. But when I glanced at his son, a small boy clutching a stuffed dinosaur and staring nervously at the seat in front of him, I sensed there was more to the story. The father looked stressed, tired, and protective—not confrontational. So instead of arguing, I closed the movie app and let the moment pass. As the plane settled into its cruising altitude, I opened a book instead, hoping to ease the tension between us. Continue reading…
