After several days of intense work, I finally boarded the plane. This flight was going to be my salvation

—a few hours to turn off my mind, watch a movie, and unwind. I only dreamed of silence and peace. But as soon as the jet began taxiing, my dreams were forcibly disrupted. In front of me sat a young female, barely in her twenties. As soon as she settled in, she flung her long, thick hair over my tray table, virtually obscuring my full screen.

I did not want any confrontation. I politely asked her to relocate her hair; she apologized and did so. However, ten minutes later, her hair was back in my space. I leaned forward again, repeating my desire. She didn’t even turn around and pretended not to hear me. And suddenly something clicked within me. I decided this soaring beauty needed a brief yet memorable instruction.

So here’s what I did. I will tell you, and I am curious whether you believe I did the correct thing. I slowly took three pieces of gum from my bag and chewed them one by one, calmly. Then, with a completely neutral attitude, I began quietly inserting them into her hair. Strand by strand. About fifteen minutes had gone before she turned around, thinking something was wrong.