 |
|
Enjoy your stay Thanx for visiting |
 |
|
|
Enjoy your stay Thanx for visiting |
|
~ Fear Of Flying ~
There are times in everyone's life when we experience fear. It is one of those emotional responses to the unknown that plays havoc on our minds and our spiritual well-being. For the most part, fear is something we can deal with and "put to bed" with thoughtful words of encouragement from a close friend or loved one or by something as simple as a deep breath and a sigh of relief. Then there are times when we must face fear "dead-on" and deal with it as best we can. My fear of flying is one of those things that just won't go away.
The funny thing is that I have flown many times over the years and I now fly more than ever, despite my fear. My fear has never stopped me from boarding any airplane or caused me to postpone a trip but it has certainly caused me grief. Believe it or not, it continues to haunt me to this very day. For some reason, every time I fly, I still get the goose-bumps, the shivers and that mysterious dryness in the mouth. I am finding that the more "seasoned" a flyer I become, the more I fear being up in the air (so to speak).
It is a battle of wits between what is logical and what is adventure.
My logical, mathematical mind is constantly thinking and reminding me that according to statistical probability, sooner or later the likelihood of crashing will catch up with me and my ticket to heaven will be cashed in. It doesn't matter that the odds are in excess of 1 in a million and that I have a better chance of being killed in my car on the way to the airport to catch my flight. All that doesn't matter when you are actually in the airplane taxiing out on the runway about to take-off once again. Yet every time that plane glides in on approach and lands on a long paved runway strip, all the fear subsides and I have survived yet another ordeal. Thank God I am back on solid ground. Of course I then ruin the moment by reminding myself that I have just reduced the odds another notch.
My adventurous mind on the other hand, is chomping at the bit to feel the speed and the freedom of soaring high above the clouds at 500 miles per hour. I must admit, the view from above is breath-taking. There is such an awesome beauty peering down at fluffy cloud tops that look like unraveled bails of cotton and the spectacular view of an anvil-head thundercloud bursting with lightning as you effortlessly glide around the perimeter staying out of harm's way. There are no words to describe the sight of looking down at the Manhattan skyline on a clear cold December night from 5,000 feet in the air. The lights dance and twinkle in the darkness as if they were choreographed by a masterful electrical technician.
So, the irony lies in the paradox. As long as the adventure is greater than the fear, or if the need to be somewhere else outweighs the desire to stay where I am, I will continue to fly. If the adventure becomes mundane or routine, or if there is an additional risk from bad weather, my own fear may one day overtake my sensibility and I may choose to postpone or delay a flight. It is my way of coping.
Many people say that fear is a measure of self-confidence. The more you fear, the more insecure you are. Many people are fearless fliers who have never ever questioned the safety or reliability of a jet aircraft despite all the horrific crashes and unexplained deaths. They have logged thousands of air-miles and still enjoy every flight as if it were a "walk in the park". They have absolute confidence that they will arrive safely without incident. It may be self-confidence or it may be ignorance by choice. Sometimes the greatest ally to confronting any fear is not knowing what to fear by voluntarily disregarding all the negative images and creating your own wisdom based on positive experiences. One could argue that too much knowledge is a dangerous thing or that "ignorance is bliss".
It does seem that we all live in fear to some degree. It is also true that the more wise and knowledgeable you become, the greater your fears manifest themselves. Some things you did when you were young may now seem reckless or "childish" and you wonder what possessed you to do those things in the first place. I am sure I am not alone in this category. The one advantage that knowledge gives you is the ability to evaluate risk and to feel confident in what you choose.
I do believe that a little bit of fear in your life is a good thing. It gives balance to your character and to your instincts. Where you once may have been arrogant, fear may now make you humble. In relationships where independence and lack of commitment are a widening gap, fear may draw a couple closer together. Fear from experience of a serious car accident may make you a safer driver. It is all a matter of degree and the foresight to know both sides of the coin.
So, I will continue to fly and I will continue to fear flying. One day, the fear may just save my life or it may be just one of those things that never materializes.
Pure and simple....
 |
 |
[HOME]
[Philosophy]
[Storyworx]
[MusicRoom]
[BMG News]
[MAIL]
[About Me]
[Awards]
[Favorites]
[Hobbies]
- This Storyworx page updated May 10th, 1998 -