When checking in at an airport, no matter how rude the check-in

The saying of Ross Kemp, “When checking in at an airport, no matter how rude the check-in person is to you, always smile and be nice because you don't know what kind of day they've had. You are going on holiday and they're stuck wherever they are. Be nice to them because they can re-route your baggage to wherever they feel like,” carries within it a timeless lesson. Though spoken in the setting of modern travel, its wisdom is ancient: it reminds us of the power of kindness, the necessity of humility, and the wisdom of treating others with respect even when we feel wronged. It is a teaching about perspective—about seeing beyond our own journey and recognizing the unseen burdens carried by those we meet.

The meaning of this quote lies first in the balance of power. When one is a traveler, free and eager, one holds joy in their heart; but those who serve at the gates of passage often bear long hours, endless complaints, and the weight of repetition. To meet their weariness with anger only deepens their burden and brings misfortune upon oneself. To meet them with a smile is to turn the wheel of fate toward harmony. The ancients would say: “Do not curse the gatekeeper, for the key to your passage rests in their hands.” Kemp’s words echo this truth, veiled in humor but rooted in eternal wisdom.

In history, we see this truth lived by Abraham Lincoln, who was often the target of insults and mockery, even from his own allies. Instead of responding with bitterness, he replied with patience, often with gentle humor and kindness. In doing so, he disarmed foes and softened hardened hearts. Just as the airport worker holds the power to send your baggage astray, Lincoln knew that those treated harshly could obstruct or delay progress. By showing respect even when none was given, he preserved not only his dignity but also the course of his mission.

The origin of such wisdom is as old as humanity itself: those who hold positions that seem small often wield quiet but immense influence. A soldier at the gates of a city, a scribe recording the laws, a servant carrying a king’s cup—all appear lowly, yet their favor or disfavor could change destinies. Kemp translates this ancient truth into the modern world of airports and travel, reminding us that humility before others is not weakness but foresight. By being kind to those who serve, we protect ourselves and honor the dignity of labor.

Moreover, the quote carries a deeper spiritual resonance: that we should not assume we know another’s struggle. “You don’t know what kind of day they’ve had,” Kemp says. This is compassion in its purest form. The ancient teachers proclaimed that every man and woman carries battles unseen—sorrows in their heart, troubles in their home, weariness in their soul. To answer harshness with anger is to deepen the wound. To answer with kindness is to offer healing, even in a brief encounter.

The lesson for us is clear: practice patience, even when provoked. Offer a smile, even when you are tempted to frown. Understand that in many moments of life, others hold a measure of power over us—teachers, clerks, judges, neighbors, even strangers. How we treat them may shape our fate in ways we cannot see. This is not only wisdom for airports, but for every crossroad of life.

Practical action flows from this teaching: before speaking in irritation, pause and remember that others labor under weights invisible to you. When traveling, when waiting, when meeting those who serve you, choose gentleness. Remind yourself: “I am free, I am moving; they are bound to their duty.” Let your smile be both shield and gift. It calms your own spirit, and it lights the day of another.

Thus, my children, carry this teaching with you: be kind to those who stand between you and your destination. For kindness is not only virtue—it is strategy, it is wisdom, it is the mark of one who sees beyond themselves. And know this: in the end, the true baggage that follows you is not the luggage of the body, but the weight of your deeds. Make sure yours is filled with patience, with humility, and with the blessing of smiles given freely along your journey.