CaptBill
Well-Known Member
As most of us know, or should know, how we interpret and react to any given situation is likely governed by our unique view and perspective of it. As I find myself occasionally struggling to define my view of life and circumstances, I sometimes find it helpful to take an introspective peek at the world I live in from time to time.
An internet search on "poverty" will reveal that most of the world's people are poorer than we are. Some are so poor, their total fortunes amount to about as much as they can carry and defend. It's widely reported than millions live on less than a dollar a day, and millions more have nothing at all. It should not be lost on us that on any given day we can read about large populations of people who are suffering through horrific living conditions or circumstances that in all likelihood none of us will ever experience.
I am guilty at times of losing perspective on life. I find myself thinking about things like how big my next Plasma TV should be, or wondering if I should go with the 17" or 20" rims on my truck or where I would like to vacation next year. I am terribly guilty of thinking I deserve what I have and even guiltier of thinking I need more. As a society we have become accustomed to a lifestyle that most of the world's population will never get a glimpse of, much less experience.
Does that mean we don't strive to achieve? Of course not, but I think we need to recognize our incredible fortune in living where we do and having what we have. With this recognition also comes the responsibility and understanding of where we fall on humanity's food chain. If you don't believe we are at the top, you need to study world history and explore populations who live in China, Russia, Africa and many others. We are indeed a fortunate lot.
As fortunate as we are just being Americans, we are even more blessed as a community. As an aviation family we are uniquely different than most. We walk into strange environments and see, hear, feel, smell, taste and generally sense way more about what's really going on around us more than most people on Earth. Think all that just goes away when you leave your airplane or workplace? It doesn't. It follows you home and wakes up with you the next day. It watches the sun rise, smells the morning air in your neighborhood, tastes your breakfast, hears the birds, and the leaves rustling on the trees in your front yard, and feels the embrace of someone who loves you more than anyone else in the whole world. Day after day, if we allow it to do so, it becomes a source of joy in our lives.
We all know people who encounter all these things but never experience them, and who rarely experience any joy at all. Instead, they wake up at four in the morning because that's when their alarm clocks go off. They brush their teeth and put on a pot of coffee. They dress themselves in the same old clothes , eat the same old soggy cereal and spend the morning wondering to themselves if there is anything in life they hate worse than their job. They somehow make it to work, put in their time, do a lot of stuff that doesn't seem to matter, come home, eat dinner, go to bed and then start all over again. They feel no pain, but they feel no joy - they're barely alive. Millions and millions of people live like this every day and we should all stay motivated to avoid falling prey to this living hell.
To all my friends on JC, which is everybody, I would like to offer up a challenge. As you wake up every morning, I would like to encourage you to work on defining your own healthy perspective on life. It's easier said than done, but I promise you it will provide you with deeper meaning regarding compassion, understanding and living in general. Challenge yourself to look at life from the perspective of what you can contribute, rather than what is owed to you. Attempt to see life through an orphans eyes who is living with hunger and disease or worse. Take advantage of, or better yet, create opportunities that will allow others to benefit from your compassion and generosity.
I am very much aware of the struggles many face living this aviation dream. Whether you work at traffic reporting, flight attendant, pipeline patrol, flight instructing, mechanic, air ambulance, check flying, hauling freight, agricultural or are in your early years at your first regional airline, chances are you struggle financially. It becomes very easy to focus on your individual needs because frankly, there are many.
That said, find ways to give back with whatever resources you possess. As much as we would all like a little more money in our paychecks, I have to say, I never met a good pilot in any capacity who was poor. Not exactly.
An internet search on "poverty" will reveal that most of the world's people are poorer than we are. Some are so poor, their total fortunes amount to about as much as they can carry and defend. It's widely reported than millions live on less than a dollar a day, and millions more have nothing at all. It should not be lost on us that on any given day we can read about large populations of people who are suffering through horrific living conditions or circumstances that in all likelihood none of us will ever experience.
I am guilty at times of losing perspective on life. I find myself thinking about things like how big my next Plasma TV should be, or wondering if I should go with the 17" or 20" rims on my truck or where I would like to vacation next year. I am terribly guilty of thinking I deserve what I have and even guiltier of thinking I need more. As a society we have become accustomed to a lifestyle that most of the world's population will never get a glimpse of, much less experience.
Does that mean we don't strive to achieve? Of course not, but I think we need to recognize our incredible fortune in living where we do and having what we have. With this recognition also comes the responsibility and understanding of where we fall on humanity's food chain. If you don't believe we are at the top, you need to study world history and explore populations who live in China, Russia, Africa and many others. We are indeed a fortunate lot.
As fortunate as we are just being Americans, we are even more blessed as a community. As an aviation family we are uniquely different than most. We walk into strange environments and see, hear, feel, smell, taste and generally sense way more about what's really going on around us more than most people on Earth. Think all that just goes away when you leave your airplane or workplace? It doesn't. It follows you home and wakes up with you the next day. It watches the sun rise, smells the morning air in your neighborhood, tastes your breakfast, hears the birds, and the leaves rustling on the trees in your front yard, and feels the embrace of someone who loves you more than anyone else in the whole world. Day after day, if we allow it to do so, it becomes a source of joy in our lives.
We all know people who encounter all these things but never experience them, and who rarely experience any joy at all. Instead, they wake up at four in the morning because that's when their alarm clocks go off. They brush their teeth and put on a pot of coffee. They dress themselves in the same old clothes , eat the same old soggy cereal and spend the morning wondering to themselves if there is anything in life they hate worse than their job. They somehow make it to work, put in their time, do a lot of stuff that doesn't seem to matter, come home, eat dinner, go to bed and then start all over again. They feel no pain, but they feel no joy - they're barely alive. Millions and millions of people live like this every day and we should all stay motivated to avoid falling prey to this living hell.
To all my friends on JC, which is everybody, I would like to offer up a challenge. As you wake up every morning, I would like to encourage you to work on defining your own healthy perspective on life. It's easier said than done, but I promise you it will provide you with deeper meaning regarding compassion, understanding and living in general. Challenge yourself to look at life from the perspective of what you can contribute, rather than what is owed to you. Attempt to see life through an orphans eyes who is living with hunger and disease or worse. Take advantage of, or better yet, create opportunities that will allow others to benefit from your compassion and generosity.
I am very much aware of the struggles many face living this aviation dream. Whether you work at traffic reporting, flight attendant, pipeline patrol, flight instructing, mechanic, air ambulance, check flying, hauling freight, agricultural or are in your early years at your first regional airline, chances are you struggle financially. It becomes very easy to focus on your individual needs because frankly, there are many.
That said, find ways to give back with whatever resources you possess. As much as we would all like a little more money in our paychecks, I have to say, I never met a good pilot in any capacity who was poor. Not exactly.