[This is not a New Year's Wish]

On January 1st, I flew back from a work/leisure trip in Oslo. The plane was delayed by an hour, and I was tired and hungover. I sat down in my aisle seat (always aisle) in an empty row, pulled my beanie over my face and fell asleep while the plane was waiting to depart. After the delayed departure and an additional delay for de-icing, the plane took off. I was enjoying my slumber as we reached altitude, and I heard the fasten seatbelt sign being switched off.

As I moved my seat back, the purser came on the intercom and announced that on the right side of the plane the Northern Lights were clearly visible and that they were the most spectacular he had seen in all his flying career. I was awake right away. Sitting on the left aisle side, there was very little opportunity for me to see the lights. As the passengers in the right-side window seats started marvelling about this incredible phenomenon, more passengers on the left side started moving into the aisle to catch a glimpse.

Then, the right-side window seaters started getting out of their seats and inviting people to take turns in the window seats to watch the spectacle. People started talking to each other. The steward in the front beckoned me to look through the window of an empty business class seat and more passengers followed. It was like a calm but joyful type of musical chairs, where people got up from their seat instead of rushing to occupy it. It held up the food and beverage service but the stewards were aligned with the general atmosphere and allowed the calm chaos to happen. One of them took the phone of an elderly lady into the cockpit to film the lights without the glare from the little windows. When she got her phone back, we admired the video and taught her how to use Airdrop so she could share it with the other passengers. For the rest of the flight, most people talked to their neighbours, with noticeably less headphones and sleeping masks being worn.

In these very dark times, that have pressed heavy on my outlook on life, I suddenly felt connected to all these strangers. When it comes down to it, most of us want meaningful connections, we want to reach across the aisle and share something beautiful. It’s like the lights broke down our walls and made us all aware of each other’s humanity.

I have no big words for 2025. I just hope there will be enough light to guide us through the darkness.
 
Till next time,
Kim van der Horst | Director of Fondation Constant