Yesterday, on encountering an unexpected delay on the tarmac at O'Hare, I was reminded how our actions hold the opportunity to palpably influence the actions of others. While many of my fellow passengers involuntarily reached for their cell phones and began texting or speaking, the man next to me took from his bag a journal and a book of poetry and began to peacefully read and write. As it happened, I had a journal and a book of poetry tucked into my own bag, and his action strengthened my choice to bypass my cell phone and do as he was doing. Over the ensuing hour, I also looked out my window at the rain, then at the sun, summoned the courage to ask the passenger in front of me to turn his cellphone to "vibrate" in order to spare the rest of the cabin from the ceaseless ping of incoming texts, and noticed--in this grand pause afforded by a small decision--that my fellow passenger was reading the same poet as I: Pablo Neruda. We laughed and shared. His choice was my gift.