Mindfulness and Travel: An Air of Gratitude
by Maya Frost
Feeling cranky about air travel? Get a grip.
Not on the arm of your passenger seat--on reality, history, and the incredible accomplishment of human flight.
Celebrate the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Although there were certainly others who were experimenting with flying machines--most notably, Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian who is widely celebrated in his native country as being the father of aviation--the Wright Brothers are generally regarded as the first to get humans off the ground.
The fascinating thing about the Wright brothers is that they were not the idealistic dreamers you might expect them to be. They were serious, studious, and determined to figure things out. It wasn't that they were obsessed with the dream of soaring high above the ground. They were mechanically-inclined brothers who owned a bicycle shop. They were intrigued by the engineering challenge.
They dug in, immersing themselves in their research. By following their hunch--and testing the heck out of it--they found the key component that enabled them to create that first flying hunk of wood, fabric and wire capable of carrying a person and landing without crashing.
The Wright brothers had the same access to records of tried and failed attempts at flight as all other would-be aviators of the time. They studied birds, they analyzed physics properties, and they built wind tunnels--just like everyone else. Sure, it was their dogged persistence that led them to success, but there was something else that really helped them nail it.
Instead of focusing on the force needed to lift the contraption, or the engine required to power it, they zeroed in on the concept of control. No sense having a great flight, only to crash into the trees after a few moments of jubilation. It was the issue of control that captured their imagination and led to a design featuring both maneuverability and safety.
But there was a problem. They got distracted by their efforts to control sales, and the research and development division was left flapping in the breeze. While the Wrights got caught up in patent struggles and contracts, adventurers around the world were improving on their original design. Savvy businessmen were building airplanes, airports and flight schools. By 1912, Wilbur had died, and Orville was losing interest in flying.
Meanwhile, Santos-Dumont continued his passion for being airborne. He is credited with launching the first public flight, as well as designing the first hydroplane. He zipped around Europe, flying to fashionable restaurants and parking his plane out front, right next to the tethered horses. Where the Wrights were methodical and diligent, Santos-Dumont was a flashy man about town, known for his daring and his sense of style. He cut a dashing figure, and inspired everyone from fashion designers to engineers. His friend, Louis Cartier, created the first wristwatch for him after Santos-Dumont expressed a need to keep track of time while busily flying his plane.
Santos-Dumont didn't give a rip about patents. Instead of spending his time and money on protecting his designs, he freely offered his ideas to anyone interested in copying and improving them. In this way, Santos-Dumont dramatically increased access and ingenuity in air travel.
We need both the plodding perseverance of the Wrights and the free-thinking generosity of Santos-Dumont.
Bill Gates said: "The Wright brothers created the single greatest cultural force since the invention of writing. The airplane became the first world wide web, bringing people of different languages, ideas and values together."
The next time you're waiting for your plane to come to a complete stop, whisper words of gratitude to those whose determination led to discovering what it takes to make a safe landing.
You may now move freely about the cabin. Please refrain from complaining.
Thank you for flying for us, Wilbur, Orville, and Alberto.
© 2003-2020 Maya Frost
Please include the following when sharing:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com
Not on the arm of your passenger seat--on reality, history, and the incredible accomplishment of human flight.
Celebrate the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Although there were certainly others who were experimenting with flying machines--most notably, Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian who is widely celebrated in his native country as being the father of aviation--the Wright Brothers are generally regarded as the first to get humans off the ground.
The fascinating thing about the Wright brothers is that they were not the idealistic dreamers you might expect them to be. They were serious, studious, and determined to figure things out. It wasn't that they were obsessed with the dream of soaring high above the ground. They were mechanically-inclined brothers who owned a bicycle shop. They were intrigued by the engineering challenge.
They dug in, immersing themselves in their research. By following their hunch--and testing the heck out of it--they found the key component that enabled them to create that first flying hunk of wood, fabric and wire capable of carrying a person and landing without crashing.
The Wright brothers had the same access to records of tried and failed attempts at flight as all other would-be aviators of the time. They studied birds, they analyzed physics properties, and they built wind tunnels--just like everyone else. Sure, it was their dogged persistence that led them to success, but there was something else that really helped them nail it.
Instead of focusing on the force needed to lift the contraption, or the engine required to power it, they zeroed in on the concept of control. No sense having a great flight, only to crash into the trees after a few moments of jubilation. It was the issue of control that captured their imagination and led to a design featuring both maneuverability and safety.
But there was a problem. They got distracted by their efforts to control sales, and the research and development division was left flapping in the breeze. While the Wrights got caught up in patent struggles and contracts, adventurers around the world were improving on their original design. Savvy businessmen were building airplanes, airports and flight schools. By 1912, Wilbur had died, and Orville was losing interest in flying.
Meanwhile, Santos-Dumont continued his passion for being airborne. He is credited with launching the first public flight, as well as designing the first hydroplane. He zipped around Europe, flying to fashionable restaurants and parking his plane out front, right next to the tethered horses. Where the Wrights were methodical and diligent, Santos-Dumont was a flashy man about town, known for his daring and his sense of style. He cut a dashing figure, and inspired everyone from fashion designers to engineers. His friend, Louis Cartier, created the first wristwatch for him after Santos-Dumont expressed a need to keep track of time while busily flying his plane.
Santos-Dumont didn't give a rip about patents. Instead of spending his time and money on protecting his designs, he freely offered his ideas to anyone interested in copying and improving them. In this way, Santos-Dumont dramatically increased access and ingenuity in air travel.
We need both the plodding perseverance of the Wrights and the free-thinking generosity of Santos-Dumont.
Bill Gates said: "The Wright brothers created the single greatest cultural force since the invention of writing. The airplane became the first world wide web, bringing people of different languages, ideas and values together."
The next time you're waiting for your plane to come to a complete stop, whisper words of gratitude to those whose determination led to discovering what it takes to make a safe landing.
You may now move freely about the cabin. Please refrain from complaining.
Thank you for flying for us, Wilbur, Orville, and Alberto.
© 2003-2020 Maya Frost
Please include the following when sharing:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com