I had been looking forward to that flight for weeks. After months of nonstop work and constant demands, my small treat to myself was a simple one: a window seat. Watching clouds drift beneath the wings always brings a calm reminder that life is bigger than deadlines. As I settled in, that peace washed over me—at least for a moment.

A father and his young daughter took the seats beside me. The little girl’s face lit up at the sight of the window, then fell when she realized it wasn’t hers. As the plane prepared for takeoff, the father leaned over and asked if I would switch so his daughter could have the view. I gently explained that I had reserved the seat ahead of time. His quiet reply—“You’re an adult woman, yet you still act so immature”—stung more than I expected.

Later, a flight attendant approached, reassuring me that keeping my seat was completely within my rights. “Setting boundaries isn’t unkind,” she said. “It’s honoring your needs.”

When I returned, the father was making his daughter laugh, and the tension had vanished. No one had lost. I kept my small sanctuary, and they found their joy another way. I left that flight with a clearer truth: choosing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s self-respect.