Up early and at airport to meet Jon coming in flight from Djakarta, bound for Kupang.
Going through customs/security with extra kit from Richard security discovers my Swiss Army pen knife, apparently in pocket of Richard's kit bag. I don't try to explain what we are doing, and why we carry knives, to cut ourselves free if end up in sea, and simply ask if air crew can carry the knife for me and return it in Cupang; no problem; very helpful people.Afterwards, whilst having a cup of coffee with Jon and reflecting on how all is going, I suddenly realise big change in how airport staff have just handled me, compared with yesterday when I flew in as a pilot.
When I go through an airport as a blind pilot with Richard, and people have knowledge of our flight through the media, everybody assumes I have a level of expertise, competence and potential as a blind person.
Today, travelling incognito with Jon, being just another blind person to get through the system and onto the plane, the treatment, whilst certainly courteous and professional, was totally different, with them presuming I needed a high level of guidance and advice/support.
Was I a totally different blind person today, just because I was not heading out onto the tarmac to fly a plane, but rather be a passenger in one?
All quite natural enough, I know and fully understand the change.
However, it got me thinking like this; maybe ALL of us are a bit like this, but with a difference.
I think that other people, when they look at you (not me now, YOU), they probably see much more potential in you than you see in yourself.
Most of us under estimate our own potential, despite other people seeing it and often encouraging us to attempt more with our lives.
For me, today, the opposite was taking place, with people stereotyping me a bit as a blind person.
I started wondering how different all the blind people in the world would look at themselves, if the world looked at them and treated them differently!
This got me really excited; just think about the following truth…
Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.
– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
OK, now don't think I am going on a big trip about blind people; I think this is an exciting life lesson for us all.
Most of you have far, far too low an estimation of what you are capable of; other people see potential in ourselves we don't see ourselves- isn't that so true?
Two applications here; firstly, start telling your friends and work colleagues the potential you see in them.Too often, we are threatened by the abilities we see in others. Funnily enough, they don't see the same potential in themselves for some reason, so, do them a favour, and tell them! They say that if a manager wants to be a success, he/she should make successes of all those around them…
The second important lesson is this; you yourself have far more potential than you think; think higher, dream higher, aim higher, and you will be amazed how just thinking differently about yourself changes the person you are, and what you go on to achieve…
Don't let the world, or anybody else, squash you into their mould, but believe that your Creator has made you to do great things, and positively impact your generation; somebody has to do it- so it may as well be you.
Whilst waiting for our plane, Jon and I were chatting about our recent experiences, and I was comparing my difficulty in flying in a perfect straight line on instrument, compared with Richard.
Jon reminded me of our time in Antarctica; in clear weather, when Jon was leading, he would take a compass bearing, then fix a point near the horizon (an ice formation etc), then we would just walk towards it for hours. However, in a whiteout, when all of us were walking in what appeared to be bright milk, with no idea where the ground was, let alone the horizon, Jon would need to check his compass literally every couple of minutes, and often make big alterations after swinging off course a bit. This example reminded me why it is important to be getting information from my compass every couple of seconds, requiring a tiring, high degree of concentration all the time, comparing my angle of bank, and occasionally my altimeter, track etc.
I guess it is like Richard trying to fly in cloud all the time; just a totally different kettle of fish, and somehow helpful to have spoken to Jon about it!
Strange, a few minutes later, taking off in the Boeing 737, accelerating down the very same runway I landed on yesterday; same limited seatbelt, but there the similarity stops. Much greater power/speed, but, once airbourne, no sensation of speed from wind rushing past your face and body, no bucking aircraft underneath you, very quiet, even without headphones to drown the engine noise!
I have decided I just LOVE microlight flying, and thoroughly recommend at least one flight to you all- it is a wonderful experience!
Coming in to land in Kupang, I was mentally following the pilot down with his procedures, but then it all became very different from what all landings should be!
We hit very hard, just on our port back set of wheels, then we bounced to just the right set of main wheels, then the aircraft tilted alarmingly to the left again, with, Jon estimating, the wing tip not far off the ground; we floated literally for about six seconds (try counting it and imagining it- it's a BIG bounce!); when we hit again on the left back main undercarriage, the aircraft again tilted far to the right, with the wing tip not far off the ground before the right undercarriage hit again; we then did several bumps from left to right, before the nose-wheel finally came down; either the experienced pilot was not concentrating, or the First Officer needs some practise. One of those exceptional landings you are happy to walk away from, and will never forget!As an aside, we have had lots of great landings!
Richard has been teaching me the wisdom of landing at relatively high speeds, giving plenty of lift under the wings if needed, and the use of breaks quickly bleeds the speed off once down.
Once in the terminal, met by great ground handling staff; soon on quiet country road heading for nearby hotel; two very tired people, but suddenly aware of the quiet and serenity around us; car gliding along lonely country road, Jon describing beautiful wild flowers in blossom by roadside; blue sea on our right, green vegetation and trees all around; beautiful blue sky above, quiet, relaxing piano music in car- Richard Clayderman no less- and cool air conditioning wafting over us- wonderful sense of relaxation coming over us both.
Later, after booking into hotel, Jon and I stripped to shorts and headed for the pool by the beach mid-afternoon and ordered beer and sandwiches, went for a quiet swim in beautiful swimming pool almost deserted, then relaxed and fell asleep on loungers, after hearing Richard had landed safely at Bema, and would be flying in here tomorrow.
Both woke up early evening, headed up to our room, and, believe it or not, I got into bed before 7 pm, read an audio book for an hour or so, and was fast asleep before 9 pm! Wonderful hey?! I didn't even set my alarm for 0515 hours as usual, and slept like a log until past 0900 hours.
Thought for the Day: Treat YOURSELF as if you were what you ought to be and you will help yourself become what you are capable of becoming.
(adapted from) — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe