It’s been ages since my last Wellness Wednesday post. I think the last one was about a year ago, when I shared about embracing good posture.

Today, I’m sharing how I finally got treatment for TMJ jaw pain after years of thinking there was probably no real solution. Me of little faith!

My Jaw Pain Story

I’d had jaw pain for I don’t even know how many years. It became one of those annoying things I just accepted and thought, “Oh well, once you’re getting older, there’s always some kind of pain to deal with.” I figured this was just my life now and secretly thanked God it wasn’t something worse. Yep, I’ll take jaw pain over other things any day.

One day, I was talking to my lovely work friend, and somehow we got onto the topic of troublesome jaws. I showed her how bad mine had become. When I opened my mouth, it would fully zig-zag before closing again.

“Look,” I said. “Open, close, open, close. Click, click, click.”

My friend was a bit horrified and politely asked me to stop before I damaged my jaw further. She then told me about a physiotherapist she was seeing who specialised in TMJ.

TMJ is a jaw issue where the joint and muscles don’t work together properly, causing clicking, pain and tightness. She said they don’t just treat the jaw itself but also look at things like muscle tension, posture and how you’re moving your jaw day to day.

When I Finally Got Help

So I went home and didn’t do anything about it because me and medical things… we’re not really friends.

But then I thought I’d stop being a baby and go deal with the issue. The pain was only getting worse, and popping Panadol and Nurofen wasn’t ideal. So, thanks to my friend’s recommendation, I booked in for TMJ jaw pain treatment at Sutherland Shire Physiotherapy and finally started my road to no pain.

TMJ Jaw Pain Treatment

The physio assessed how my jaw was moving. She checked how it opened and closed, the clicking, and that zig-zag motion I’d been showing everyone.

She worked her magic hands through the tight muscles around my jaw, temples and upper neck. I didn’t even realise how much tension I had been holding. This included the masseter muscles along my cheeks and the temporalis at my temples. She also gently released deeper muscles from inside my mouth (which I later learned are part of the jaw stabilising muscles).

She also did some gentle neck traction and guided my jaw through slow, controlled movements. This helped it start tracking more smoothly again.

Dry Needling, Exercises, and What I’m Doing Now

In the sessions since then, I’ve also had dry needling, which is similar to acupuncture. She used it in two places in my jaw to release really tight muscle tension. I’ve also been given exercises to do at home, involving gentle jaw movements and relaxation, to help retrain how everything is working.

I’ve had four sessions so far, with one more to go. After that, it’s up to me to keep doing the exercises and retraining my jaw so everything keeps moving the way it should.

TMJ Jaw Pain Treatment Actually Works!

And just like that, even after the first appointment, I already felt better. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the treatments did leave me sore for a few days afterwards, especially the neck traction—whoa! But my jaw feels so much better now, and that knot in my neck is completely gone.

I don’t know why I never fully believe treatments like this will work. It was the same when I saw a podiatrist for my sore back, which had been bothering me for ages. I only went after my husband encouraged me, and didn’t really expect it to make much difference. But the wonderful podiatrist fitted me with custom-made orthotics, and the pain just went away… poof!

Don’t Ignore Jaw Pain

If you have jaw pain that’s having a domino effect on the rest of your body, don’t ignore it like I did for so long. Go and get it sorted because TMJ physio really helps. Future you will 100 per cent thank you!

Hi friends, happy Monday. It’s time for part two of our Japan trip recap, and today I’m covering our Tokyo itinerary. Our time in Tokyo included two days in the city on either side of DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland (but I’ll share all about those two amazing days separately in upcoming posts). I thought I would recap our Japan trip mostly by city rather than by day.

Hopefully, this way it will be easier to follow, since we moved around quite a bit, packed in so many sights and experiences, and didn’t stay in one single place for long. So, let’s go to Tokyo 😊

Tokyo Itinerary: City Highlights and Travel Recap

Ueno Park

First stop on our very flexible Tokyo itinerary was Ueno Park. What a perfect way to start, because it was calm and exactly what we needed. Oh boy, I didn’t know it at the time, but over the days we spent there, my senses got a major workout in colourful, bustling Tokyo!

How lucky were we to be there and catch the end of cherry blossom season? This was the first week when we saw a few of them — so pretty, aren’t they? By the second week, the blooms were mostly floating away in the wind.

After that calm start, Tokyo quickly shifted gears as we made our way into busier parts of the city, including Shibuya.

Onitsuka Tiger

Before our trip, I made a mental wishlist of places I would love to visit. If I saw them, it was a bonus, and if I didn’t, that was all ok too. Visiting Onitsuka Tiger was one of them, but I didn’t want to waste time hunting for the store, especially knowing how busy it got.

When I did spot it (I couldn’t believe my eyes!) I cleared it with the group and went in. I love travelling with my cousins, and one of the reasons we work so well is that we give each other time and space.

We mostly stayed together on this trip, but occasionally we split up to visit places or do things we were individually interested in. If one of us spotted a place or shop we liked, we went in while the others did their own thing, then we met up again or dropped a location pin to find each other again.

Inside the Store Experience

It was crazy busy inside, with people trying on shoes and waiting to pay. The upstairs section, where they stocked the sneakers I wanted, had a queue for the cashier wrapped around about three times. It was nuts!

Luckily, I already knew exactly what I wanted and in what size. Then the stars aligned, and I found a lovely sales assistant who helped me try them on and let me pay downstairs, where it wasn’t so busy. If that hadn’t happened, I would have had to wait well over an hour and probably wouldn’t have bought them.

It was a total madhouse in there, full of tourists like me, all hoping to get their hands on a pair of iconic Onitsuka Tigers at a better price than I could ever find in Australia.

I still can’t believe I got the pair I wanted — the same style Uma Thurman wore in Kill Bill. What a win!

Shibuya Crossing

Later, we ended up at the iconic Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the world.

We crossed the crossing a couple of times while we were there. On one of them, I saw my husband trying to get a photo, so I ran right into the middle and struck a pose. Bucket list wish ticked!

I’m more on the reserved side (less so as I get older), and my family have said they can clearly see my mum comes out in me when we are overseas. She wasn’t reserved, she was a riot!

Akihabara

On another day in our Tokyo itinerary, we visited Akihabara, the district known for everything to do with anime, consoles, retro gaming, and Pokémon cards. Oh my goodness, the streets were lined with endless shops going up so many levels, absolutely packed with it all.

The gacha machines were everywhere, and the choice was incredible!

We also came across a whole mix of animal cafés, from cat cafés and reptile cafés to owl cafés and even hedgehog cafés.

There were also so many maid cafés, where staff dress in costumes and create a playful, fantasy-like, over-the-top experience for guests. Outside almost every one I saw, there was a maid standing out front waving and trying to encourage people to come in.

I was so curious because I’d read about them when we were doing our Tokyo itinerary, and truly, where else in the world do you see anything like that? I really wanted to go in, but we ran out of time.

Friends in Tokyo

Sam is so friendly, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my son; he really is. He met some Japanese students when they were living in Sydney last year, and they had since returned to Japan, so he got in contact with them before our trip. They spent a couple of days with us and were such lovely guys.

This is them with Sam when it was time to say goodbye. They had travelled three hours just to meet us in Tokyo. Even though I had only known them briefly, I felt sad watching them leave.

Don Quixote

In this building is a shop called Don Quixote,and again it was on my mental Wishlist as I had seen it on Instagram. So in we went but what I did not know was how overwhelming it was going to be!

Inside, there are rows and rows of everything you can think of. Souvenirs, keychains, shoes, bags, clothes, food, sweets, games, you name it, it’s there.

The lighting is also quite strong, and the music is loud and constant, including the Don Quijote jingle on repeat.

There was a whole floor of crane games for prizes like plush toys and the usual things you’d expect. What I had never seen before was machines using a hook-style grab for items like mayonnaise, sesame oil, bottles of juice, soft drinks, and even packets of two-minute noodles.

It’s also not just one level; I think this shop had seven or eight, and we went up every single one of them.

So here’s a friendly warning. If you get anxious, panicky, or overwhelmed by sensory overload, you might want to avoid this shop. I’m usually fine with busy stores, crowds, and noise, or at least I thought I was until my Don Quijote experience. Yikes!

Still, I’m glad I got to experience it as it’s certainly unique, even if it left me feeling a little (or a lot) overwhelmed. Haha.

Kabuki-Cho

One time, it was just Sam and I, and cousin M, who still had enough energy left to explore in between sightseeing trips, so Google Maps led us to Kabuki-cho.

This wasn’t on our Tokyo itinerary at all, just a spur-of-the-moment “nope, we can’t rest, we must continue” kind of decision.

King Kong, I think??

Godzilla on top of a tall building.

We stopped for a snack.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Another day, we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory to see the views over Tokyo.

Shinjuku Gyoen

One of the last places we visited was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It was truly a beautiful, peaceful spot right in the middle of the city. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, make sure to put this on your Tokyo itinerary!

And just before I wrap up, here are a couple of photos of Tokyo at night, including Tokyo Tower from a distance and a riverside walkway lit up by the city.

Whoa, that was a lot of places we covered in Tokyo over about three days, and I’m sure we only scratched the surface. It really is a city you could explore forever.

Next recap will be all about DisneySea and  Tokyo Disneyland. Thanks so much for stopping by and for reading this long one. If you made it to the end, you’re a champ!

See you in the next one 😊

Hi friends, I hope you’re having a great day. I’m time for the April edition of What’s Up Wednesday. Thanks so much for being here.

WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK

My meal planning has gone out the window, and I’m just winging it every day. But so far so good, and now that the new season of MasterChef is on, I’m more inspired. Not that I make anything nearly as creative as they do. But still, I like watching it as I cook.

Anyway, back to what we’re eating this week. So far, I’ve made Mediterranean chicken, and we’ve had plenty for leftovers. We aren’t fussy at my house, and we are more than happy to eat the same meal two nights in a row.

I did make a big pot of hearty soup just for me to take to work for lunch, and I have divided it up and frozen it. I like my soups thick and chunky with plenty of chicken and vegetables. This time I made it with some soup mix, and it has beans and barley, which makes it extra filling. It’s a nice change from the summer salads that I was taking to work during the hotter months. Although we haven’t really hit any autumn weather, soup is a nice change from salad and tuna on repeat.

My son’s friend’s family owns a farm where they raise cattle for beef, and they generously gave us some meat, so we’ve been eating more red meat than usual.

I think I’m rambling now. There is clearly no plan here.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT

Trip planning! I’m not in a funk like I was when we got back from our USA trip, but I am missing that excitement of planning a trip and counting down the days. That’s one of the best parts!

WHAT I’M LOVING

It’s autumn, but it’s still so warm, and I sure do love warm weather. I’ve probably gone and jinxed everything now, and next week it will be cold, and I’ll be complaining.

I wonder what the weather forecast is. I’m too scared to look!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

We are all coming down from the high of our trip to Singapore and Japan.

It’s back to work for all of us, and it’s always a bit of a shock coming back to reality.

If you’d like to catch up on the trip recaps I’ve done so far, you can find them here and here.

WHAT I’M DREADING

Nothing I can think of, which makes me very thankful. Well, I guess there is one tiny thing.

I’ve shared before that I’m not great with anything medical. Yes, I do the essential lady check-ups (ugh), but I tend to put off other things. I’ve got a referral for a blood test, and it’s been a few years since my last one. I should probably check things like cholesterol, but the last time my white blood cell count was a bit low, I immediately thought the worst.

The doctor said everything was fine, and I was probably just run down or fighting an infection. But after that, I kind of went, “Who needs this kind of negativity?” And I haven’t gone back.

So I’m trying to get myself together and just do it. I’m not even scared of needles; it’s more the results. And I know putting it off is silly, but here we are.

WHAT I’M WATCHING

I went to see Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you must! I loved it so much, I want to go back again. I had to hold myself back from jumping out of my seat and dancing—it was that good!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Michael Jackson hits! Mama say mama sa mama coo sa – wooooo!

WHAT I’M WEARING

Autumn layers! I have been starting the day with a denim jacket or light jumper, and then, as it’s still lovely and warm during the day, I peel off a layer, and it’s back to T-shirts. Yay!

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Zero plans

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

I was just saying to a friend today that May is usually a very quiet month. Well, she actually said that, and I agreed. But it turns out there are a few things happening.

First up, one of our friends from our monthly Monday catch-ups is organising girls’ adventures, and we’re kicking off the first one on the 9th of May with a trip to Manly. Then we have a work dinner on the 22nd. I’m having some friends over on one of the weekends, I think it’s my turn to host cousin connect, and there’s Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.

It’s nice to have a few things to look forward to in May.

Well, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I’ll say what I always say. I can’t believe how fast the time is flying! It’s already time to say goodbye to April. It was a great month, and I’m sad to see it go. But fingers crossed, May is good to all of us.

See you on Friday.

Linking up with Shay

Hi friends, it’s time to reflect on the week and share some of the things that made it good. Welcome back to Friday Favourites!

1

On Tuesday (Monday was a public holiday), I went back to work after being off for 4 weeks. I can’t say that going back to work is a favourite because it’s so nice to have time off. But I felt pretty ok about it and wasn’t dreading it or anything like that.

It was actually nice to be up early for my walk to work. This night owl has been enjoying very late nights and majorly lazy mornings!

As I shared on Wednesday, the weather has been great, and even though we are knocking on winter’s door, it’s actually been very warm during the day.

Tuesday morning looked like this. So pretty with the sun shining through the trees, right?

And this is this afternoon.

2

This week, I went to the physio and actually dealt with something I’d been putting off. Go me! I’ll share more about this in another post, but it’s all about me and my bad habit of clenching my jaw (ugh). I’m forever avoiding dealing with health things, so this feels like a win.

3

Mid-week churro treat was a highlight.

4

This little dog scares the life out of me on my walks to and from work when she barks at me. She’s small, but she’s ferocious.

I usually spot her in the distance when her owner is taking her out for a walk, so I’m prepared for her very clear intentions of wanting to attack me as I walk past. The owner has to hold her back!

But when she’s sometimes in her front yard, she catches me off guard, and it’s kind of embarrassing how high I jump.

Not this week. This week I was ready, and I didn’t jump when she came at me. Haha.

5

Some of my preschool friends missed me while I was away. I’ve been getting drawings and paintings as gifts over the last couple of days, along with sweet words like “Miss Ruth, I missed you.”

It kind of turns into a domino effect. A couple of friends say it, and then the others join in and want to give me something too.

One of my preschool friends asked our very funny classroom teacher to write me a message on one of the paintings. Can you guess which part was the friend’s and which part was added by her?

That’s a wrap on this week’s Friday Favourites. Hope you all had a good one too.

Packing My Lunch Every Day

Hi friends, it’s time to link up with Adrienne, Dara, Joanne and Jen to share all about our go-to lunches.

I work full-time as an early childhood educator, and I pack my lunch for work every single day, so I like to have a few healthy work lunch ideas ready to go.

Our preschool is located on a quiet suburban street. There is nowhere close by to buy food, and that’s actually totally ok with me. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to resist cafes or fast food places with delicious options right at my doorstep. The temptation would be too great, and the expense would be too crazy.

Healthy Work Lunch Ideas

My Go-To Healthy Work Lunch Ideas

I love eating fresh fruit, and in summer I kind of live on salads for lunch. Although there have definitely been plenty of times during my lunch break when I’ve stared at yet another salad and wished it would turn into a Big Mac.

But overall, salads really are my go-to. They must have protein, though. Egg, tuna, chicken or beef (usually any leftover protein from the night before dinner) are usually my pick. I also try to remember to add cheese because salads without cheese just feel a little bit sad to me.

Earlier this year, I discovered crispy rice tuna avocado bowls. For a while, they were constantly on my lunch menu, and then I paused. Writing this is actually making me think I should start making them again soon because they really are delicious.

Winter Lunches

Once the weather gets colder, I switch to soups. I’ll make a big batch and freeze portions so I can just grab one. Easy peasy. Future me is always very grateful when I do this.

The Fridge Sweep Lunch

Some days, though, lunch is just a fridge sweep. I put random leftovers and bits and pieces into my lunch container. Whatever needs using up is the go.

It’s also a win because it avoids food waste, which I’m always trying to be more mindful of. My husband, being a chef, has a radar for anything in the fridge that needs to be eaten, especially anything close to its best-before or use-by date. Let’s not even talk about the milk. Yikes!

Avocado, Always!

I’m also very loyal to avocado. It’s good for cholesterol and works with so many easy lunch options. I love it on sourdough with tomato and fetta or simply on toast with Vegemite.

Making Lunch Feel More Intentional

This year, I decided I wanted to do nicer things for myself, and one of those things was putting more intention into my lunches. I kind of got into a rut over the last few years, where I would just grab whatever and put it into any plastic container.

When my kids were in school, I would lovingly prepare their lunches, and they would have their lunch bags in their current preferred pop culture theme. The last lunch bag I ever bought was BMO from Adventure Time. Sometimes I’d also add a funny note.

At the beginning of this year, when motivation was at its peak, I thought, “Why don’t I do something nice for myself?” So I asked for a proper pretty lunch bag, matching utensils, and a drink tumbler with a straw for Christmas.

I love using them every day. When I pack my lunch, I don’t write myself notes because that would be weird, but I do like having things that make my lunch feel a little more special.

These healthy work lunch ideas are nothing earth-shattering, but I enjoy them.

Who doesn’t love a good lunch on a busy day? For me, food is always a highlight of my workday😋

When I told friends we were going to a baseball game and how excited I was, I got a few surprised looks. And truly, who could blame them? I’m not exactly the most sporty person on the planet.

But my family are. In fact, my cousins, who we travelled with, love baseball. They play all year round, coach younger teams, and referee as well.

So while I don’t play sport (please don’t throw me a ball, I’ll just duck), I do enjoy a good game of pretty much any sport (no boxing though). I get right into the spirit like any die-hard fan.

Inside Tokyo Dome

The minute we walked into Tokyo Dome, we felt it straight away. The energy was incredible, with thousands of people, but it was so organised, completely in sync and almost calm. One of the things that stood out on our trip was how good the Japanese people are at organising large crowds to move quickly, calmly and efficiently. It was truly impressive.

Our Tickets and Seats

My cousin, the amazing trip organiser, got us the best tickets through KKday, and we had the perfect seats. And there was so much to see, I didn’t know where to look!

The Atmosphere and Crowds

First up, there was the cheering, which was completely next level. It wasn’t just random shouting, no way. It was coordinated chants, songs, trumpets and clapping, with whole sections moving together like they had been rehearsing for years.

I think I spent just as much time watching the crowd as I did the actual game because it was that fascinating.

The Food at Tokyo Dome

Then there was the food, and it wasn’t just soggy chips and hot dogs. Although there’s nothing wrong with chips and hot dogs, I do love those too. But the menu was impressive with bento boxes, fried chicken, rice, beef dishes, and curry. Real proper meals, like something you’d find in a restaurant rather than a stadium.

The sweets were also really good. I had ice cream and some kind of doughnut-style treat. So Yum!

Beer Girls

Then there were the beer girls running, yes running, up and down all those stairs through the stands, selling drinks and snacks as they went. They carried huge beer kegs on their backs and somehow managed to pour and serve drinks while weaving through packed rows of seats. It was incredible to watch.

And they were so sweet and friendly too, always smiling and making it look effortless, even though I’m sure it was an intense job. I kept thinking how unbelievably fit they must have been.

Half Time Entertainment

Hi friends, and welcome back. I’m so glad you’re here. Today I’m taking you through our days at Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland, sharing the highlights, the rides, what felt a little unexpected, and everything in between. Let’s go!

Ok, I didn’t in a million years expect to wear my Minnie ears two years in a row. When I packed them away after our trip to the USA, I thought waaaahhhh, that’s probably it for a while. So pulling them out again for this trip was such a bonus.

Tokyo DisneySea

DisneySea Arrival

DisneySea was the first Disney park we visited in Tokyo. We arrived at 8.30 am before it opened, and as you can see in the photos, the lines were already crazy long. No surprises, though, because luckily, YouTube travel vlogs had already prepared me for it.

Even with the crowds, everything moved so efficiently that we were inside in just under an hour. That’s pretty amazing, right?

Walking Around DisneySea

DisneySea is huge. We did a lot of walking that day. My Apple Watch said around 22,000 steps. My husband’s Samsung said closer to 32,000. So I’m going to call it somewhere in the middle and just say it was a very big walking day.

Would you believe I hadn’t actually registered that DisneySea is right next to the water? It wasn’t until we were walking along and one of my cousins pointed out the “tsunami wall.” I thought they were joking, but nope, it’s true. Well, I’m not sure it’s actually a tsunami wall. My cousin was probably just trying to scare me, which isn’t hard, haha. It’s more just coastal protection because it’s built on reclaimed land along Tokyo Bay.

The Details Everywhere

The park itself is incredibly detailed, but I was so excited and in the moment that I didn’t fully register everything as I was going through it. Now I’m looking back at the photos and sitting down to calmly write the recaps. I’m having a lot of “ahhhh” moments. Back then, it was all “wow”.

There were carvings, statues and really intricate design elements everywhere. All themed around a harbour and sea exploration idea.

Tower of Terror

Our first ride at DisneySea was the Tower of Terror. Back in California Disneyland, the original Tower of Terror was turned into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, which was so fun! The drops were so scary, but because the ride blasted out 80s tunes, I couldn’t care less. I’m a big scaredy cat, always, but play me 80s music and I might even jump out of a plane (only kidding, no way would I do that).

This was the original scary Tower of Terror, so I was a bit nervous going in. But all the storytelling before the ride was in Japanese, so I didn’t really know what was going on. That was actually a good thing because I didn’t feel as scared anymore.

Rapunzel and Fantasy Springs

We went on Journey to the Center of the Earth, Peter Pan and Rapunzel, which was so beautiful.

We missed Anna and Elsa. The wait time was around two hours, and the fast passes sold out so quickly, so sadly we missed out (a good excuse to go back, right?)

Snacks and Food

Oh yes, I should also share about the food at DisneySea.

We stopped for snacks throughout the day, which was kind of unusual for me because I’m normally way too excited to eat properly in places like this. But the variety was just too tempting, and oh my goodness, there was so much to choose from!

The popcorn flavours alone were things like garlic shrimp, soy sauce and butter, caramel, curry and black pepper. I didn’t try them all, but they all sounded so interesting.

All the walking definitely made me hungry.

It was also so much cheaper than what we paid in the US. I remember a hot dog meal (hot dog, chips and a drink) at Disneyland California being around 16 to 18 US dollars, roughly 24 to 27 AUD, which was enough to kill our appetite for anything else, haha.

More Photos from the Day

The rest of the photos are from our day at DisneySea, in no particular order.

Such a fun day at DisneySea. Now onto Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo Disneyland

Rainy Day at Disneyland

It rained all day long. It was on and off but strong enough that we were in ponchos for the whole day. After a while, it was so bad it was actually funny, and we just had no choice but to accept it. I packed away my Minnie ears and pulled on my cap so I wouldn’t scare the park with the state of my hair.

The downside was that all the stage shows, parades and fireworks got cancelled. But the upside to this torrential day was that we didn’t have to wait to get on rides or pay for Disney Premier Access. Always got to look on the bright side!

The Rides

The Baymax ride was so fun! The whole ride was just so happy with all the lights, music, and the cast members dancing along.

Just like at DisneySea, the cast members were so friendly. They were waving and smiling all day long!

The Beauty and the Beast ride was that beautiful, I cried.

Even the Jungle Cruise ride, which was all in Japanese, was so fun because the guide was so enthusiastic. I had no idea what she was saying, but it didn’t matter.

And It’s a Small World will always have a special place in my heart, even though my family thought it was too tame.

By the time I went on Splash Mountain, it didn’t even matter how wet we got because we were already soaked anyway.

The first time I rode it, I fully hid under my poncho. I was not brave at all.

The second time, I had no choice. One of Sam’s friends, Takame, sat next to me and kept yelling, “Open your eyes, mum.” So I did what I was told and actually had the best time.

A Really Nice Part of the Day

Sam’s friends, who he met in Sydney and are originally from Japan, came to meet us at the park. He had organised it before we left for the trip, so it was really fun to get to know them and spend the day together. They were such funny guys and wouldn’t take no for an answer when I wanted to chicken out of Splash Mountain.

Such a fun couple of days at Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland. Rain and all, we loved every minute of it!

A flight from Miami to Atlanta turned into a chaotic nightmare for passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight when a passenger, identified as Shannon Marie Harris, forced the aircraft to return to the gate.

The situation quickly descended into disruption as the woman allegedly ignored repeated instructions from crew members and fellow passengers, refusing to hang up her phone during taxiing on Monday, April 27.

Reacting to the details, one enraged user wrote, “The level of entitlement some people have is astonishing. She should be placed on a permanent no-fly list.”

Shannon Marie Harris reportedly forced a Delta Air Lines flight from Miami to Atlanta to return to the gate just moments before takeoff

Image credits: Miguel Ángel Sanz/unsplash (not an actual photo)

Delta Flight 1323, departing from Miami International Airport (MIA) and bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) last week, faced a major disruption due to Harris’ alleged “belligerent” behavior.

According to media reports, the situation escalated when Harris refused to end a phone call and allegedly used profanity toward flight attendants who were delivering safety instructions at the time.

While the exact nature or content of the call, including whether it was urgent, has not been publicly disclosed, aviation rules require passengers to end calls and switch devices to Airplane Mode before takeoff for safety and regulatory compliance.

Image credits: Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office

Image credits: JohnHariza58511

During takeoff or landing, a handheld device can become a dangerous projectile in the event of sudden turbulence or a hard stop, and it may also interfere with pilots’ headset signals.

Following crew member instructions is a federal requirement under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in the U.S., and violations can result in severe fines or arrest.

In light of this, Harris’ actions could have jeopardized the safety of the flight and fellow passengers, including herself.

Image credits: atlscoop

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Image credits: ElaineWord62

In a now-viral video of the incident, captured by a passenger on board, Harris can be seen refusing to hang up the call as the flight returned to the gate.

She was then asked to leave the aircraft multiple times but refused to comply with instructions from airline staff and a deputy.

Because she remained in her seat and refused to cooperate, a Delta Air Lines representative made the decision to deplane all 160 passengers, prompting fellow travelers to chant, “Get off the plane!” at Harris.

Harris allegedly refused to hang up a phone call despite repeated requests from airline crew members and fellow passengers

Your phone call is never more important than an entire commercial flight.

​A 38 yr old woman on a Delta flight out of Miami refused to hang up her phone during the safety briefing.

​She was talking way too loud and got belligerent when the crew asked her to cut the call.… pic.twitter.com/NSTWbJISoZ

— Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4) April 30, 2026

Image credits: povaristocrat

One traveler was heard saying, “Please be considerate. Consider yourself and the rest of us,” while another pointed out that people had connections to catch and families to see.

When the pilot finally announced that everyone would have to deplane because of Harris, another passenger reportedly shouted, “So we’re all supposed to listen, and she doesn’t?”

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In the end, the entire aircraft was deplaned, and Harris allegedly attempted to blend in with other passengers to leave unnoticed.

Image credits: Chris Brignola/unsplash (not an actual photo)

Image credits: atlscoop

However, she was identified and arrested by the Miami-Dade Police Department at the gate.

The decision to deplane the entire aircraft was made in accordance with standard aviation practices.

When a passenger refuses to comply with a removal order, emptying the aircraft allows law enforcement to safely engage the individual without risking injury to others in a confined space.

Due to the incident, the flight was delayed by nearly 90 minutes, and Shannon was taken into custody by authorities and booked on a misdemeanor trespassing charge.

“…Passengers should sue her for time lost. I bet if that started happening these entitled people would think twice…” one user reacted

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As the situation gained widespread attention online, netizens were quick to voice their opinions, with many harshly criticizing Shannon for causing the disruption and resulting delay.

One user wrote, “I use any minimal excuse I can to forgo or delay a phone call, and this f**ker has to talk in one of the rare times you’re not allowed to.”

Another user fumed, “Disruptive passengers should have consequences, all because of 1 person, the entire flight is delayed as if people don’t got places to be. Smh.”

Image credits: Diogo Nunes/unsplash (not an actual photo)

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“Can we start filing lawsuits against these people? Lost vacation time, missed connections, etc. Until people start doing this and these people get banned from EVERY airline this will continue,” a third commenter added.

One user, who claimed to be a fellow passenger on the same flight, recounted, “She refused to get off the plane so they forced the entire plane to deplane. Halfway through deplaning she willfully got off and was met with 12 officers at the gate and was immediately arrested.”

The same person continued, “The rest of the plane didn’t have to deplane after she got off so they just reboarded everyone that had gotten off. We were about an hour late to ATL with more than half the plane being connections.”

Shannon was arrested for disrupting the flight and is currently facing a misdemeanor charge that carries up to one year in jail and a fine

Image credits: Joyce Romero/unsplash (not an actual photo)

Others expressed, “Like it or not when one steps on that plane and the flight crew… They’re in charge and they have no problem letting everyone know it. I hope the fines and possible jail time was worth a phone call…”

Following the incident, Delta Air Lines issued a statement to People magazine, in which a spokesperson apologized to passengers affected by the delay.

They said, “A customer did not comply with repeated crew instructions to end their phone call while the aircraft was taxiing out. The customer became disruptive, and the aircraft returned to the gate where [the passenger] was removed from the aircraft.”

Image credits: Isaac Struna/unsplash (not an actual photo)

“The safety of our customers and crew comes before all else, and Delta has zero tolerance for disruptive behavior. We apologize to our customers for this experience and delay in their travels.”

As for Harris, she was released from custody after posting a $500 bond on Tuesday, April 28.

She is reportedly scheduled to appear in a Miami-Dade County Court on May 15. Under Florida law, the misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

“Put the person on the call on the no fly list too bc why didnt they just hang up to help end this mess,” wrote one netizen online

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