waiting in baggage claim
at the airport
kind of quiet
nothing much happening
the mood
suddenly changes
all i can hear is
‘ooh, ooh, ooh!’
someone
has arrived
someone else
has been waiting
both are
so so so happy
to see each other
they run
they start
hugging
jumping
ooooooing
and
walk by smiling
it’s impossible
not be happy
right along with them
their unbridled joy
spills over
and is infectious.
—
‘do you ever get secondhand happiness?
like when someone is happy
so you’re happy
because they’re happy.’
-soul in ink
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
Yes! I love seeing moments like that.
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such a bonus!
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Secondhand happiness is a very cool thing! I would often experience this when I DJ’d weddings.
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oh, i’ll bet!
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Good to notice a moment like that in an unexpected place. I’m usually looking for a case that hasn’t appeared yet, and convinced it is lost! 👴
Best wishes, Pete.
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same!
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I love that feeling too! Like at the end of Love Actually. So uplifting 💞
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The luggage claim is always a microcosm of society and amusing to watch!
Enjoy your trip wherever you’re off to!
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Reunions at the airport are the best!
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Always… especially when its the children that are getting excited hy something. I cant help but feel their unbridled energy.
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It’s one of the things I love about airports: seeing people reunite. It always makes me so happy. I sometimes start to cry.
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Happiness is definitely contagious, Beth
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I thought of this, too. :)
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It’s a fabulous music video 🎶🤗
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❤️
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Truly inspiring to witness that and feel it.
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I’ve watched friends/relatives receiving bad news in letters or phone calls etc. Definitely felt the unhappiness.
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i’m so lucky because i get to do that every time someone smiles at my dogs and even more so when they stop to pet and talk to them
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That is lovely. I love secondhand happiness.
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I love seeing people happy.
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Love this. We never check bags, except when we did two weeks ago due to needing wardrobe across the country! Of course, not only were our bags marked “priority” but they were among the LAST to come out!
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Gotta love second-hand happiness. It can lift you up at the most unexpected times. One of life’s little bonuses.
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I love this….”secondhand happiness”. Yes! It’s infectious…thank you, Beth! 💝💝💝
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Oh yes, when people are happy I am happy too!
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All the time. It is contagious 😷 May everyone catch it fast.
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You described it perfectly, Beth, I’ve witnessed it often!
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Love that about airports. Love your term too Beth. What a great word: Secondhand Happiness! We need some more of that! Ha, ha.
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I get giddy at my kids’ sporting events. It’s almost as if I’m on the field and every kick, pass, etc being cyber-conducted through me, oh and also when the baggage claim starts rolling. ;) What a lovely post.
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Beautifully minimal. Sometimes a few simple words capture a moment more vividly than a long description. The quiet atmosphere feels calm, reflective, and full of possibility. ✈️✨
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So fun to get a shot of someone else’s excitement!
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Yes I sometimes get secondhand happiness but more often secondhand sadness. So many people are mistreated and have bad things happening to them. However, it was a fun poem.
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I love this 😁
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walking down a hotel hallway and hearing people cheering on a bride and groom, so I started dancing past the open door to the music, and at the next open door, someone invited me in
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Hi Beth, I couldn’t find a contact for you, so can you please email me so I can email you back?
trulymadlyordinary@gmail.com
Thank youuuuu
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Hi Beth, I couldn’t find a contact for you, so can you please email me so I can email you back?
trulymadlyordinary@gmail.com
Thank youuuuu
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Sorry Beth I do not know why the comment comes across from anonymous🤔 but it’s genuinely Ortensia😊
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i believe you )
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😂😂😂
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You also got mail😎
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It really feels good when you people that happy.
Like Victoria called it; “second-hand happiness”
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yes, yes –
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Secondhand happiness—I like that term. I totally get this. The airport is one of the best places for people watching.
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Secondhand or otherwise, I’ll enjoy every second of it! For some reason I’m always especially happy when it’s a serviceman or woman coming home.
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yes, that’s really a powerful experience for the service people’s return. and yes, happiness is good no matter where it appears
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Secondhand is still great. Happy is happy, no matter where it comes from.
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i could not agree more!
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reminds me how my grandkids would greet me when when I arrived at the airport In Brisbane for a week’s stay. But, hey! they still love me , still phone :)
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oh, what joy that must have been – and good they still love you!
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it sure is :) thanks Beth — got you in capitals for that comment :)
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I find airport arrivals a deeply emotional place, often finding myself holding back tears, or being curious about the relationships of the arivee and greeter.
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i am so like this as well –
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It has become more pronounced as I have got older.
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All the time, especially when I see parents with their little children having fun, like the family we saw recently at a waterpark. It was awesome!
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isn’t it the best?!
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Only tangentially related, but funny…
I saw a video yesterday, where a boy of maybe 8 or 9 was holding up a sign in the airport for his dad. When dad saw it, he burst out laughing. The sign read, “Welcome home from prison. I’m your son.”
That’s exactly something I would do!
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that is soo, soo good. i would as well.
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Joy is infectious!
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and this is the only infection i’m happy to catch
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Yes!!!
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Secondhand happiness happens to me all the time, especially when joyful children are involved.
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yes, me too!
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I’m getting teary-eyed just reading this and seeing your photo. Thank you for sharing this joyful moment with us. And, yes, I experience moments like this secondhand also.
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i love these moments.
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So sweet. Yes! I love those moments too. I get choked up at videos of dog adoptions where the dogs choose their owners from a big room of people. I’m so tempted just to find out what dog, if any, would pick me. The best was a giant of a man being chosen by the tiniest dog! :P Hubby said no to this, however.
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