YOUR CHOICE

Say you’re up, soaring locally with no special plan except to enjoy it and stay safe.  Still, as in ‘real’ life, soaring is all about decisions. Even deciding not to decide is…  you get it.  One decision that’s yours to make at any point is, would you rather have an excellent flight or a mediocre one?  Your choice.For a mediocre flight just keep doing what you always have, maybe bring music, some favorite food or other distraction.  It’s easy.  But that will be less satisfying and for many reasons less safe than pursuing excellence.If you prefer excellence, simply challenge yourself.  Instead of another hour in the house thermal just like last week, pick some uncertain goal such as getting to a far edge of the neighborhood and back, or doing so more quickly.  Not something easy, something near the limits of your capability.  The point is not to gain a victory, it’s to try hard, learn a lot, and and earn more than a minimum of personal satisfaction.  If success were defined by avoiding failure, playing checkers with two-year olds would demonstrate your superiority.  Success that comes from pursuing excellence is at your fingertips every moment, leading to greater pleasures and safety on every subsequent flight.   No one could wish for more.