My grandfather was a pilot. When I was young I would watch him pore over aerial maps as he created his flight plans. Bent over at the table, brow furrowed, he carefully plotted each course. He checked and rechecked his calculations. The steps seemed tedious and unnecessary to me. I didn’t see the value in creating a flight plan. I was anxious and just wanted to go flying but my grandfather was not about to miss a single step.
When we finally got the chance to go, I would take my turn in the co-pilot seat. Once we were up in the air my grandfather would let me take the yoke. “Hold steady,” he would say “you only make small adjustments when you’re flying.”
I was thinking about my grandfather the other day and how much life is like flying.
Laying out the map and diligently plotting the course is crucial if you want to get where you are going. Sometimes we are anxious and don’t see the value in devising a good plan. We are more interested in forging ahead than planning ahead. Plot your course, decide upon your destination and then make plans for getting there.
Once you have your plan, go full throttle. You will never get off the ground at taxi speed.
Assess where you are on a daily basis. Make small changes to your plan when necessary but “hold steady”. We get off course when we look for some tricky maneuver or a short cut that we believe will get us there faster.
Remember that there is something larger than you guiding you on your journey. Have faith that you will reach your destination and plan for a smooth landing.
