On Flying

(I wrote this in between flights and tried to edit it to be somewhat coherent.)

Flying (by airplane) I think is one of the most amazing experiences, partially because of the range of emotions it stimulates. 

Though it's decreasing, I’ve always had a fear of flying and I think the main reason is because one loses all control and goes beyond the natural human state.  That is, you trust yourself to the airplane and its abilities to carry you up to the sky.  Above the ground, broken off from gravity (partially), you enter a weird existential state where you are aware of your mortality.  Here, squeezed in with others, you are part of the sky’s realm, far above daily life and national boundaries.  The skyscrapers of majestic cities become small as you rise apart from the action, floating, regardless of what’s happening below.  And you cross time zones, oceans, and only hope that you will make it back down to the world.

Flying is also emotional because of its inherent quality of movement.  To fly, you must leave one place and arrive in another.  Hellos and good-byes, and the emotions that accompany these, are ever present.  In my case, it was a tough good-bye to leave home, but then a happy arrival.  I also think that as an emotional experience, it really links the humans who are coming and going in the weird transient environment of the airport, and I really like the international connectedness.

Of course, the conditions can be taxing: loud, cramped, just sitting, and then your body is confused by this time travel that does not adhere to the natural rhythms of life.  Mornings and nights blend together.  You relive or lose hours of your life.

However, I think it can all be worth it because of this:

The sunrise (most likely) over the Atlantic ocean

Witnessing the world from a completely different perspective is an absolutely beautiful experience.  The waves of clouds which puff in ephemeral wisps, the blue of the sky, the tangled web of the earth below, and the clarity of the sun all create such stunning landscapes that I can leave behind my stress for a moment and just be content to look out the window.