Anyway........glad I was able to get one of these sweet gliders! This photo was taken in August by a fellow pilot at The Crawfords in Randolph, Utah.
Sunday July 25th, I met a dozen or so hang glider pilots (and one paraglider) at Randolph. The smoke was forecast so it wasn't a surprise to be greeted by thick, visually obstructive gunk! As smokey as it was it turned out to be quite a nice soaring day. I was able to stay airborne over two hours with altitude gains up to 13,000 asl. Thats 5500 over launch.
I was able to fly two days and log seven flights. The weather was absolutely gorgeous but the soaring was kinda marginal. Both days I flew there was a super low inversion (800' was the top the second day), which puts a damper on things. On my last flight the thermals were breaking through the inversion and I was able to climb above my tow altitude. Nonetheless, it was great to get out and do some flying and escape the cold for a few days.
Saturday night we met up with my cousin Ed and his wife Vale for dinner. We ate at a great little restaurant in Scottsdale called Alma Scottsdale. They serve a very upscale southwest cuisine. With their spacious outdoor patio, tasty drinks and food, it was the perfect place for the evening.
Do people change? Can people change? Will people ever change?
We have all pondered these questions regarding our spouses, family, friends, politicians - members of the human race. Most of us have introspectively considered these questions regarding our own personal shortcomings and weaknesses. I think it's fair to say the majority of us have a tendency to think if we can make certain changes in society, the world will be a better place. This line of thinking could be applied to friendships, marriages and political systems. You name it. The possibilities are endless, right?
Over the holidays I was chatting with my younger sister Sandy about the differences we have politically. I used the word paradigm to describe the concept of viewing an object from different perspectives. A very simple illustration would be viewing a cube that has all of its sides painted different colors. Depending on your position you might see a red top and a blue side. Another person viewing the cube from a different angle may see a red top and a green side. Although both viewers are looking at the same object, their interpretation of the cube is different as a result of their perspective. What you know about a certain individual will result in an opinion and attitude toward that person. Yet another viewer may have a completely different opinion based on a different knowledge set.
Imagine yourself as the cube. Your imperfections, faults and flaws are mixed together with your strengths, talents and positive aspects. I may have a very positive attitude toward you based on my general assessment coupled with what I know about you, but my opinion will be based solely on my limited knowledge or paradigm. Another individual may know something dark or may have knowledge of something negative in your past. Their image of you may be formed by negative information alone.
How we perceive a situation also has much to do with our own personal lens. When I was in high school, I found a copy of The Book of Mormon on a bookshelf in my home. When I confronted my father (an evangelical preacher) about the book, I was told, "you shouldn't even be looking at that book, it's heresy." According to my upbringing and as a result of that event, I subconsciously formed a negative attitude toward Mormons. I personally don't believe the same way Mormons do, but it wasn't until later in life while living in Salt Lake I realized most Mormons are just normal human beings. Your environment growing up may have a profound affect regarding the way you judge other people.
Failures and disappointments tend to make us more hesitant and cautious. It's easy to see that the misfortune and personal defeats in our lives make us more prone to see things in a negative way. Conversely, a person with a positive background will have a less obstructed view. It's our lens.
Purposely adjusting your view to see someone or some thing in a different light doesn't mean you are necessarily changing. Change is subtle, and for most of us change typically happens over a long period of time. However, understanding can illuminate instantly, like a light bulb being turned on. You can observe a situation from a neutral standpoint without becoming emotionally involved and without feeling like you're compromising your own constitution. You can welcome those ah ha moments without feeling threatened. The time and energy we expend attempting to change other people might be better spent at changing our perspective. As a result our outlook becomes more open. When we learn and understand the differences in each other we can grow, and as a result we can replace our negative and clouded view with a clear and honest interpretation.
These days I'm eager to be outside. Whether it's hiking up one of the many trails right outside my backdoor or flying my hang glider over the majestic mountain ranges of the West. However I can manage to be a part of nature, I want to participate. Sounds a bit trite I know, but it's true! I can't stand to hear the news. I practically shudder and find a place to hide when I'm exposed to a network news program. The mere sound of a sarcastic late night show host makes me ill. I used to enjoy watching the Jay Leno show. It was relaxing and funny. I'm afraid those day are gone. I won't get into the reasons I feel this way, although I'm sure you can imagine the myriad of reasons a person would have this attitude.
I'm content to be in a mindset far removed from current events. That being said, there is a part of me that feels empathy for those that have been hurt or affected by the plagues that have descended on our world.
I love this place! I can't begin to express the absolute gratitude I have for the chance to live on this planet even though it's just a brief moment. When the uniqueness of our situation sinks in, and when one becomes conscious and aware, love and appreciation replace hate and fear.
