Hello lovely readers and welcome back to my high-flying newsletter! The only newsletter that believes you should take the autopilot out when you experience turbulence…
Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 joke that’s so bad, it’s good!
Let’s begin!
3 Thoughts:
1) “If we want to stop being a passenger and become a pilot we need to disconnect the autopilot and direct our attention to the present. This is what it means to fly manually. We deliberately focus on the present. We sink into our body and pay attention to what we’re feeling. But here’s the trick. We only use effort to maintain focus – to observe. After the fact, we must let go. If we try to control or fight or judge the turbulence, we’ll only make it worse. Instead, we should simply ride it out. Eventually, we will find the clear air beyond.” – click to tweet
2) “When a pilot anticipates severe turbulence they will turn on the seatbelt signs and make a PA telling everybody to take a seat. When we experience inner turbulence one of the most dangerous things we can do is carry on with our normal service. This is when people get hurt. Sometimes it’s best to take a seat and wait for the turbulence to pass.” – click to tweet
3) Repeat after me: “To remain present. To treat each moment as my last. To savour this one life I have. To really see what/who is around me. To respond to all things with compassion and love – including myself. To be grateful for all that I have – to express that gratitude to all that I love.” – click to tweet
2 Quotes:
“My deepest belief is that to live as if we’re dying can set us free. Dying people teach you to pay attention and to forgive and not to sweat the small things.”
― Anne Lamott
“I say raise your expectations. Elongate your process. Lay on your deathbed with a to do list a mile long and smile at the infinite opportunity granted to you. Create ridiculous standards for yourself and then savor the inevitable failure. Learn from it. Live it. Let the ground crack and rocks crumble around you because that’s how something amazing grows, through the cracks.”
— Mark Manson
1 Joke
My wife offered me a plum the other day, but then she dropped it.
I told her it took a plummet.
You can find more of AP2’s writing here at: https://wiseandshinezine.com
You can also find him on Medium at: https://anxiouspilot2.medium.com
You can also email him directly at: anxiouspilot2@gmail.com
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Clear Air Turbulence 
I love these analogies!
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🙏
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These are all wonderful nuggets of wisdom, AP. And I agree about riding out the turbulent moments in our lives rather than resisting which is often the go-to gut response.
That plum joke was just too much! 😆
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Thanks Ab. Glad you liked it. Especially the joke 😂
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Great post 👏
I’ve given it a go to;
3 Theories
1. A person who is constantly thinking is only thinking about themselves. Endless chatter about nothing than distracts them from reality. The mind will never be silent though, just as a body of water is never without a ripple on its surface.
2. An exit door procedure at 30,000 feet, the illusion of safety. Do you know why they put oxygen masks on planes? Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you’re taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It’s all right here. Emergency water landing – 600 miles an hour. You crash land in water, you have a life jacket, equipped with a whistle and light to alert your rescue helicopter. You ever been in a helicopter? They are loud. I’m talking mega loud. A whistle is about as much good as one legged man in an arse kicking competition. Moral of this story? Many people will behave towards you that they have your best interests and they will be supportive towards you too. You come to realise that they don’t at all.
3. The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. Tendency to speak the truth to people who are aware of what is being said about them but choose to ignore said issue. By clinging to reality, you’re denying the reality of the situation. I mean, do you ever think about how close we’ve come to another world war? Just because someone mistook a flock of geese flying around on a computer screen? Silly goose, it’s all a joke. Absolutely everything we valued or struggled for… It’s Monstrous… Why can’t you see the funny side? Why aren’t you laughing? 🤣😂
2 Quotes
If Dracula can’t see his reflection in a mirror, how come his centre parting is always so neat?
Karl Pilkington
True perfection has to be imperfect
Noel Gallagher
1 Joke
What’s the difference between a fireman and a soldier?
You can’t dip a fireman in your egg 🥚 🤣
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Love the joke. Interesting perspectives. If the aim of the airline is to get me high before my impending doom I’m ok with that! 😂 “By clinging to reality, you’re denying the reality of the situation.” I thought this line was thought provoking. So true. We’re attached to something we’re all going to lose one day. We should lighten up and have a laugh! Thank you friend. I appreciate your sharing. 🙏
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Don’t think it’s about the airlines aim but moreover the illusion of safety. Without being morbid, if we accept the fact we’re going to die someday, we’ll start living
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I see your point. Agreed. The closer you are to death the closer you are to life. Nothing morbid about it. No death no life. They are inextricably linked.
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Exactly right. Death is as common as the changing of the seasons. There is though a massive taboo surrounding the topic. I think it’s because it’s the only thing in our lives that we can’t control (obviously we have anomalies), but in general we don’t have a say in what happens or what day we will meet it
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It’s weird isn’t it? It’s on all the tv programs and movies we watch. It’s broadcast to us 24/7 on the news. Yet we don’t dare talk about it.
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If I was to make a suggestion as to why, I think it is that we all know it will happen, likewise we all have to deal with bereavement. Yet not one person can advise you on coping with bereavement. We see our circle of friends and family die throughout our lives and we do so too and we have grieving people who love us upset. We have never had any feedback from anyone who has died in regards to what it is like, and what goes on and do we go here there or everywhere?!?
Now, you have any recollection of your birth? You have an unwavering certainty about it happening?
How do you know that you are alive unless you have been dead?
Imagine waking up without ever going to sleep?
Now imagine going to sleep and never waking up!
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This is an engaging post. I particularly like your third thought, AP! ❤
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Thank you Cheryl 🙏
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