On the Brighter Side: I can do this!
On the Brighter Side: I can do this!
A news photographer was assigned to get some video of a gigantic forest fire. Because of the dense smoke at ground level, his editor hired a light plane for aerial views. The photographer was told that the plane would be waiting for him at a small rural airfield. So, the photographer drove to the airfield and spied a small plane warming up on the runway. He parked the car, ran to the plane, jumped in and yelled, “let’s go!” Once in the air, the photographer shouted. “I want you to fly over the middle of the fire and get as low as you can get!”
“Why?” asked the pilot.
“What do you mean, why?” the exasperated photographer said. “I want to get some video of the fire for the news station!” With that, he flashed his employee ID card.
The pilot, now looking worried, quietly asked, “so you’re not the instructor?”
Have you ever noticed some people just have that air of confidence that they know exactly what they are doing and when to do it?
I really don’t like to hang out with that group.
I tend to hang out with people that always have that, you know, that look on their face that shouts, “Where’s my mother?!”
They make me feel more comfortable and less intimidated.
My granddaughter said to me the other day, “You know Mimi, I know everything . . . Except for my words and numbers.”
That’s the perfect picture of me. I think I know, but I really don’t know, in the meantime, I act like I know, and I feel pretty good about that, until I get on a plane that is driven by a student pilot.
A while back I came up with the perfect plan. I was going to start making a checklist. Boy, oh boy, I thought to myself. This is going to be my guiding light. I can do this!! I won’t forget what I am supposed to do and when I am supposed to do it.
It was the beginning of the month. Perfect. The first evening, my calendar was right in front of me, check. Pencil, check. Paper, check. By the third day, I even thought to myself, I could put my checklist on my phone.
No, I shook my head, too soon.
It was the end of the week and I was humming along! I can so do this! I actually opened up the refrigerator door and remembered exactly what to take out! I missed no appointments. Got my list of people called, did what I was supposed to do with time to spare. Check and double check.
Started feeling pretty good about myself. Hey, I know what I’m doing. I might just call one of those people up that have confidence and everything and ask them to go to lunch.
And then . . . it happened. I lost my calendar and the wheels began to fall off the wagon. I started getting phone calls and text messages, “where are you? Have you sent me your stuff?”
My dentist called and reminded me that I missed my appointment. I was kinda-of ok with that.
The other day I think I heard a still, small voice, gently saying, “Susan, why don’t you just try it again, you can do it!”
In a decisive, strong and confident voice I answered back, “Nah, I’m good.”
Susan Baker is a columnist for The Maryville Forum.
