Due to overwhelming popular demand (another grandkid asked), here is another truism that has helped me navigate through 85 years of this journey called life.

“Flexibility is the Key to Air Power”

The only certainty is uncertainty. Wow, that’s deep. I may use that as the next title. I would spend hours on a flight plan as the naviguesser for a mission. I carefully plugged in all the meteorological (weather BS) data I had and, even more carefully, computed all the routing data I had. And carefully computed all the aircraft capability data I had. The minute we took off the plan was inaccurate. If I was lucky, that’s when my skill took over. Being able to tolerate continuous change and react maturely and effectively is the epitome of a good leader.
Whether job related or family related, it’s always wise to have a back-up plan in case weather, health, or any contingency gets in the way of accomplishing objectives.
Speaking of family, if you are a parent, I’ve got two words to describe your condition. “It’s FOREVER”. The light at the end of the tunnel is their headlights coming back to live with you.
I call them “Uh, dad” phone calls. We all get em. They go something like this. You’re getting ready to go on a short vacation ( just the two of you). Phone rings. It’s your adult, outta college, young’un. “Uh DAD,” he or she says.
Then the problem surfaces. My husband/wife just left and wants a divorce. My daughter just had a terrible auto accident and is in critical condition. Or maybe, We’re broke and a major, life threatening need for a couple a thousand dollars just arose. Can you help?
That problem just became a top priority for you. If you can help you most probably will. You are, after all, still the parent.
We call them problems, challenges, travesties, curses, or hopefully, opportunities. They can make us stronger, better and more loving parents or they could cause irreparable harm to our lives. Our reactions to these “uncertainties” are the that we call “Life”. Enuf