Podcast #51 Fear of Flying

Yesterday an Air France airplane disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean.  It was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. There were severe storms along the flight path. Automated messages reported damage to the electrical system. Today they spotted debris and jet fuel off the coast of Brazil. The 228 people aboard are presumed to have perished.

     They say that flying is safer than driving. I'm sure there are statistics to support this. Still it is not what I feel in my gut. When I"m driving a car I don’t think about dying. But it’s different in a plane. The possibility of a fatal crash is something I am aware of. This doesn’t mean I am shivering from fear. The term "mindful” is a better description In any case, I continue to fly. At some point I may decide not to.

 

 

Yesterday an Air France airplane disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Yesterday an Air France flight went missing over the Atlantic.

 

It was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

 

It was en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

 

There were severe storms along the flight path.

 

The flight path went through areas of severe turbulence.

 

Automated messages reported damage to the electrical system.

 

The plane’s automated message system reported electrical damage.

 

Today they spotted debris and jet fuel off the coast of Brazil.

 

Today, wreckage and jet fuel was identified off the coast of Brazil.

 

The 228 people aboard are presumed to have perished.

 

The 228 passengers and crew are presumed dead.

 

They say that flying is safer than driving.

 

Flying is supposed to be safer than driving.

 

I’m sure there are statistics to support this.

 

No doubt this is supported by statistics.

 

Still it is not what I feel in my gut.

 

Nonetheless it’s not what I experience emotionally.

 

When I’m driving a car I don’t think about dying.

 

When I’m in a car my mind isn’t on dying.

 

But it’s different in a plane.

 

But it’s not the same in a plane.

 

The possibility of a fatal crash is something I am aware of.

 

The possibility of dying in a crash is lodged at the back of my mind.

 

This doesn’t mean I am shivering from fear.

 

This isn’t to say I am quaking in my boots.

 

The term “mindful” is a better description.

 

It is more mindfulness than fear.

 

In any case, I continue to fly.

 

Regardless, I still keep getting on planes.

 

At some point I may decide not to.

 

The day may come when I decide not to.