...And LOOKING And THINKING

* LOOK ALL AROUND ALL THE TIME   Survival - for you and others - is always at stake!   Consciously limit your time spent with eyes inside the cockpit.   You will not see evidence of where to go for lift unless you're looking OUT.   (Your electronix cannot manufacture lift!)   *  Study the landscape and sky for all kinds of information  You are surrounded by data, but it will do you no good if you ignore it.   The more you look, the more you'll find, including much that you didn't know to expect.   Also, try to imagine what is implied by the details of what you see.   *  THINK about EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME (mental scan)  Physically, ours may be the laziest of sports, but cognitively it might be the most demanding.   If you're not thinking incisively about some particular detail every moment of flight, then you are pursuing dull mediocrity.   More thoughtfullness makes it all more fun - and SAFER.   *  Have a BACKUP PLAN for EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME  Soaring is all about improvisation.    And again, this makes it both safer and more fun.   If it's easy to stay aloft but you're unable to get away and go anywhere, experiment with various methods and practice the ones you find effective.   Then, when the unexpected occurs, you can be ready with a creative response.