Another year on this Earth and I’m grateful for the lessons learned and reinforced over this past path around the sun.
Sis and I are both flying again, though not as much as we would like but that’s how life goes at times.
Small changes can bring big results
The restorer and I have been spending more time at New Carlisle now that both airplanes are at the same airport.
Coming out in the evenings on the way home from the restoration shop a couple of times a week has allowed for more progress toward both of our goals.
I am able to write comfortably most of the time at the airport and enjoy the inspiration of life unfolding around me. Along the way, we have been able to get small projects out of the way on both Sis and Clippy, the restorer’s clip-winged Cub.
Small steps consistently have allowed for this weekend of flying as well as making progress on projects.
Focused energy produces change
Honest conversations regarding time, abilities, and goals have allowed for redistribution of resources to more realistically live.
We both enjoy projects but realizing we don’t have the time or energy to do everything ourselves has opened the conversation to what we want or need to do ourselves versus what would be better to forgo for the time being.
Focusing energy on specific areas allows for progress over time.
Right now it is working kinks out of the Bonanza.
We are flying shorter distances close to home in between taking care of Sis and other obligations.
With time, kinks will be less and we will be able to focus more on more distant trips.
Compared to where we were this time last year, with Sis cylinders out for overhaul, we have come a long way.
Life’s only constant is change
Experiencing the eclipse firsthand last month was a full-circle moment as the 2017 eclipse was spent watching airport closures for the eclipse listed within the FAA OIS page while working.
I wasn’t happy and felt like life was passing me by.
It took time to think and evaluate what was wrong, but eventually, I moved to prioritize my well-being first and foremost.
Years and pages journaled to understand there will always be something to work towards and things that will be less than ideal.
The only thing I can control is how I react.
Finding the bright spots, like the rainbow that we saw flying the Cub yesterday or a quiet cup of coffee as the sun rises, can be a reason to smile even on a bad day.
Life is never going to be perfect, it is messy and so much better than what we think we want on our own.
Small consistent goals
Having a daily steps goal on my smartwatch has been a part of my life for over a decade.
Some days the goal is met and others it isn’t.
The intent to move through the day is there because of that number on my watch.
Adding to that our intent to fly as time and weather allow, we have been working on projects but the weather getting better has reminded us that flying needs to happen just as much as projects.
Life is meant to be lived, experienced, and enjoyed.
Yes work is a part of life but it is not everything.
Take a break to enjoy the sunset or something that makes you smile.
Life will never be perfect, that’s what makes it worthwhile.
Wonder what this next year will hold?
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