I just returned from my daily end-of-the-day drive to the mailbox to send Fearless FlightKits out into the universe.  With every Kit I send a wish that this fabulous product will assist the person who ordered it in overcoming their fear of flying.  Last week I mailed one to Singapore.  Today's mailing included one to Connecticut.  Fearful flyers are everywhere. 

As I drove along the busy street, I couldn't help but notice the older man running along the sidewalk.  Actually, I shouldn't use the term "running."  He was running so slowly it wasn't even like he was moving at all.  His speed was similar to what one would use to walk on a tightrope for the first time.  Slowly.  Deliberately.  Eyes straight ahead.  This goofy runner wasn't even wearing workout clothes!  My first reaction was to laugh.  Then I stopped myself.

"Give the poor guy credit for being out there at all," I thought.  "He's taking a small step toward his health, toward a better future."  As I drove back from the post office, I again passed him.  To my surprise, he had actually traveled almost three blocks with his peculiar mode of travel. 

Then I considered all the fearful flyers out there who desperately want to make a change--to be able to travel freely if they could just overcome their fear of flying. "Small steps," I thought, "just take small steps."

My driving reflection was no doubt prompted by the email I'd read earlier from Joanna.  You may have read about Joanna in two previous posts including Today Wasn't A Good Day to Fly.  Today Joanna sent me and Capt. Ron pictures from North Carolina.  This is a big deal if you consider that Joanna lives in San Diego, and to have her picture taken in North Carolina she had to get on an airplane--two of them--and fly cross-country.  She's been working with us since last November, taking a series of small steps to overcome her fear.  It finally paid off.  

Here's Joanna's observation about her accomplishment:  "I have to say that I never thought this was possible for me. Especially since only really digging in and working hard on this since November. I FLEW CROSS-COUNTRY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? BY MYSELF!!!!" 

If you read between the lines, you'll see that Joanna's first step was to "dig in."  She made a decision to do it--and IT was big--overcome the fear that had gripped her for so long.  She knew it would take hard work.  She decided to do the work.  Then she took the next baby step and emailed me.  End result--not three blocks.  Not three miles.  But 2,546 miles, the number of miles Google says Joanna flew between San Diego and Raleigh.   

So all your fearful flyers out there, it ain't a race to get over it.  But if you start with a small step and keep on taking one more and then another, eventually you'll get there...like the old man running around the block.  You can travel just like Joanna if you keep stepping with tiny steps through your fear.  Eventually you too will be able to look back and go, "WOW--look at what I did!  Look at how far I've come!"