Over twenty guests joined in the camaraderie at the local Thai restaurant, the Thai Orchid. Our guest speaker, Pete McElvain, characteristically entranced his audience with smart bits of aviation suggestions, and threw in some poetry, too.
Mr. McElvain suggested following five points that he learned from aviation to apply to life.
1. If your first reaction is action, then it is probably wrong. He cited the charming example of when his father's plane was turned over by the wake of a passing large aircraft. Calmly, his dad said, "Hm, we are upside-down." Then proceeded to right the plane. McElvain reminded us to analyze, assimilate, and then take the proper action.
2. No matter how good you are, an airplane can make a fool out of you.
3. If you have to tell someone how good you are, you probably are not.
4. Life is not a holding pattern. Here he stated that many people get up in the morning, drive to work, return, sleep, repeat, while pilots tend to enjoy life more by getting out of that "holding pattern."
5. It is still a beautiful world. McElvain spoke about the magnificence of sunsets, sunrises, or the moon shining on the clouds, all seen from the aircraft in flight.
He finished his talk with Hermann's poem, wishing his audience a Merry Christmas.
"Desiderata," Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
1. If your first reaction is action, then it is probably wrong. He cited the charming example of when his father's plane was turned over by the wake of a passing large aircraft. Calmly, his dad said, "Hm, we are upside-down." Then proceeded to right the plane. McElvain reminded us to analyze, assimilate, and then take the proper action.
2. No matter how good you are, an airplane can make a fool out of you.
3. If you have to tell someone how good you are, you probably are not.
4. Life is not a holding pattern. Here he stated that many people get up in the morning, drive to work, return, sleep, repeat, while pilots tend to enjoy life more by getting out of that "holding pattern."
5. It is still a beautiful world. McElvain spoke about the magnificence of sunsets, sunrises, or the moon shining on the clouds, all seen from the aircraft in flight.
He finished his talk with Hermann's poem, wishing his audience a Merry Christmas.
"Desiderata," Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
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