Want to be happier? Slow down and reconnect with your family

As the author writes from an airplane returning to Israel, she recounts a recent 10-day trip to the United States. This journey marked her first time leaving the country in nearly two years, a significant undertaking complicated by a canceled flight the previous August and the need for a new passport after her husband's death.

The trip also presented another first: flying alone for the first time in over two decades. She contrasts the current air travel experience with that of 20 years prior, when she frequently flew for nearly 24 hours door-to-door to visit her father during his cancer treatment. She fondly recalls one such solo flight where her husband surprised her with a business class upgrade, leading to a humorous moment of unfamiliarity with the modern amenities like television screens.

This latest solo journey, however, occurred in a "paperless world of computers and devoid of much human contact." The author details the extensive preparations required, from updating her passport and booking flights to arranging transportation and packing. She notes the time-consuming nature of these tasks, wishing her husband had left behind detailed notes. Without his usual logistical support, the trip was entirely in her hands, prompting a mix of apprehension and a decision to treat the journey as a challenge.