There is an art, or rather, a knack to flying.
The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
...
The first part is easy.
All it requires is simply the ability to throw yourself forward with all your weight, and willingness not to mind that it's going to hurt.
That is, it's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
Most people fail to miss the ground, and if they are really trying properly, the likelihood is that they will fail to miss it fairly hard.
...
If, however, you are lucky enough to have your attention momentarily distracted at the crucial moment ... then in your astonishment you will miss the ground completely and remain just a few inches above it in what might seem to be a slightly foolish manner.
This is a moment for superb and delicate concentration.
...
Ignore all considerations of your own weight and simply let yourself waft higher.
The first part is easy.
All it requires is simply the ability to throw yourself forward with all your weight, and willingness not to mind that it's going to hurt.
That is, it's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
Most people fail to miss the ground, and if they are really trying properly, the likelihood is that they will fail to miss it fairly hard.
...
If, however, you are lucky enough to have your attention momentarily distracted at the crucial moment ... then in your astonishment you will miss the ground completely and remain just a few inches above it in what might seem to be a slightly foolish manner.
This is a moment for superb and delicate concentration.
...
Ignore all considerations of your own weight and simply let yourself waft higher.
From A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I used to dream I could fly quite often when I was a girl. It looks like your son is literally flying! Wonderful shot. Wonderful thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMy forth daughter ran track in college. She pole vaulted. The first time I saw her it was amazing. I read your comments the other day about drugs and I do think that being really involved in sports does tend to keep kids out of the recreational drug culture.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's one of my favorite quotes. It sounds so easy, doesn't it? Throw yourself at the ground, and miss.
ReplyDeleteYour son does seem to have mastered it :)
Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteOh. My. Yes.
ReplyDeleteIgnore all considerations of your own weight and simply let yourself waft higher.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll adopt this quote as a guide for myself today.
Thank you.
PS Your children are stunning.
too wild! just yesterday i had the most marvelous dream where i was flying - unlike many dreams those win which i fly (i still have these dreams & have had since childhood) i always remember vividly and clearly when awake and throughout the day... in yesterday's flying dream i was giving instructions to others on how to fly where i said "imagine where you want to fly to - then face that direction, close your eyes half way, and take off" - this was the first time i remember instructing others to fly...
ReplyDelete