Years ago I took flying lessons to get my private pilot’s license.  While I no longer renew my license, I learned a valuable lesson.  A lesson in focus that I continue to find valuable in my day-to-day life.

Keeping Sight of Purpose

For any who have ever piloted a plane, there is a LOT more going on than just steering and changing altitude.  There are settings for identifying your plane on radar. Talking to air traffic control is complex.  It also requires that you comply with commands from them.  Change altitude to 4200 feet.  Switch direction. Modify your radio frequency to a different number.  Change your radar squawk to a different code.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember a 7-digit phone number for much longer than a millisecond.  And yet complying with air traffic control requires sometimes hearing four different, 4-digit codes in the same instruction.  Air traffic control also gets a little testy when you ask them to repeat the same thing four times.

Then there is watching for landmarks…approaching airports, highways, rivers, etc.  You also need to know what airspace you’re in to comply with flight rules within that airspace.

Yes, there’s a lot going on when you’re the pilot.

Every once in a while, I found myself focusing on so many things, my instructor would say, “First and foremost, fly the plane.”

It’s amazing how that one, simple statement can clear the haze of distractions.

So too, it’s also amazing how that one simple statement can still clear the haze of distractions even when I’m not piloting a plane anymore.

When my life gets filled with lots of activity, all vying for my attention, I can still hear my flight instructor giving me this solid advice.  It always reminds me to focus on what’s really important.  Or if I’ve forgotten what is really important, to figure that out and re-focus on it.  By keeping sight of purpose, it’s so much easier to prioritize what needs to be done.  It also makes it easier to let go of the  non-essential.  It right-sizes my priorities and reduces anxiety.

Yes, sometimes I have to ask myself some questions. “What do I want here?” “What am I really trying to accomplish?” “Is what you’re doing right now helping you achieve your ultimate goal?”

Current Knitting

Fortunately, I’ve been pretty focused when it comes to my latest project.  I’m still not sure the Chevron Scarf will be completed by tomorrow’s craft show.

The one thing that’s helped possibly finish this scarf on time is that I’ve woven in a LOT of yarn ends as I went along.  But I still have one major section of the scarf to complete.  So close!