Blog Minimal
January 18, 2009
White-Knuckle Living: How to Succeed by Letting Go
Early in my flight lessons, my instructor called attention to the death-grip I had on the plane’s yoke. Looking down at the white knuckles on my left hand, I realized he was right. I had to laugh.…
22 Comments7 Minutes
January 26, 2009
Sustain or Drain? Minding the Company You Keep
Flying sustains me. When I walk away from my airplane after a flight, I have tremendous energy, and I’m ready to accomplish anything. Life makes sense, the world seems brighter, its colors more…
14 Comments9 Minutes
January 31, 2009
Who Stole the Go Signs?
There are no signs in the sky—well, at least no man made signs. I like this. One of the reasons I relish my time in the air is due to the brief respite from a landscape littered with predominantly…
18 Comments6 Minutes
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White-Knuckle Living: How to Succeed by Letting Go
January 18, 2009
Early in my flight lessons, my instructor called attention to the death-grip I had on the plane’s yoke. Looking down at the white knuckles…
Sustain or Drain? Minding the Company You Keep
January 26, 2009
Flying sustains me. When I walk away from my airplane after a flight, I have tremendous energy, and I’m ready to accomplish anything. Life…
Who Stole the Go Signs?
January 31, 2009
There are no signs in the sky—well, at least no man made signs. I like this. One of the reasons I relish my time in the air is due to the…
Follow Your Inner Compass: How to Listen to the Voice Inside You
February 7, 2009
If you ask a pilot how he navigates, how he knows which direction to fly, the acronym GPS will probably appear somewhere in the answer.…
Unexpected Turbulence: Navigating Life’s Jolts
February 15, 2009
This might come as a shocker, but aviation weather forecasters don’t always get it right. The accuracy level they’ve achieved in recent…
Find Your Balance to Find Your Wings
February 23, 2009
Balance is critical in aviation. Flying a plane that has a center of gravity too far forward or aft invites trouble. You can stare at the…
Reach Your Dreams: You CAN Get There From Here
March 2, 2009
One luxury of flying an airplane is you travel straight to your destination. Barring an obstacle along the route, like restricted airspace…
Discover the Hero Within
March 9, 2009
I’ll let you in on a secret, but don’t laugh. Well…you can laugh, but try not to do it in front of me. Here goes: the reason I learned to…
The Sky’s NOT the Limit
March 16, 2009
There’s a saying that’s common. You’ve probably heard it: The sky’s the limit. It’s said to encourage someone, to inspire him or her to aim…
Weather or Not…
March 23, 2009
I’ve been thinking about the weather lately. This weekend, I’ll fly my plane to Atlanta to join my wife at a fitness event where she's a…
The Holy Ground of Boeing
March 30, 2009
For those that read Weather or Not, you know I planned to fly myself to Atlanta for the weekend. The universe apparently had another idea…
Don’t Look Back
April 5, 2009
Someone once asked me if my airplane had a rear view mirror. While it might be useful for keeping an eye on the kids in the back seats,…
Make the Leap – Part 1
April 15, 2009
There is something you were meant to do. The fortunate among us know what that something is and are moving toward their goals. But for…
Make the Leap – Part 2
April 21, 2009
When a caterpillar emerges from a chrysalis, does it know it has become a butterfly, or does it make a leap of faith from the empty husk? I…
Smile and the World Smiles With You
May 3, 2009
I found myself immersed in a sea of people last week, adrift in the ebb and flow of humanity at O’Hare Airport after I arrived in Chicago.…
Cosmic Signposts
May 15, 2009
We all receive signs. Some of us just don’t notice. People call them different things: signs from the universe or signs from God. Both…
Airport Angel
May 28, 2009
Sometimes help not only comes when you least expect it, it can arrive in the most unlikely of forms. At least that was my experience three…
You Can’t Soar from a Prison Cell
June 17, 2009
Imagine for a moment you're confined to a prison cell. It’s not the dark, dank room we’ve grown accustomed to expect from the movies, but…
Into the Great Wide Now
July 8, 2009
Flaps, one notch. Mixture, rich. Sky, clear. Throttle, full. Brakes, released. The plane clings to the ground for an instant, Newton and…
The Space Between Life’s Lessons
July 24, 2009
Some of you may have noticed a lag between posts recently, which may imply I’m not writing as much. Au contraire. Last week I wrote at…
The Passion for Planes, Paintings, and Pets
August 19, 2009
Passion. It sparks in radiant arcs when you discover it—or it discovers you. When you possess it, you couldn’t hide its warm glow if you…
Life is Rich
August 30, 2009
We’ve all heard the maxim, “The best things in life are free.” It’s true. But what about those great things in life that do cost something?…
The School of Life
September 20, 2009
There’s no substitute for the school of life. Each of us is enrolled, like it or not. But we should like it. It’s the finest education…
Follow the Glow: How to Discover Your Passion in Life
October 10, 2009
I'm pleased to announce my article Follow the Glow is featured on Rick Smith's website. Rick is the bestselling author…
Summer School
November 9, 2009
I miss summer already. Perhaps it’s a holdback from childhood when the last school bell rang and the doors flung wide to spill kids and…
Summer School – Part 2
December 14, 2009
Second in the summer school lessons series. For part 1, click here. In July of 1990, I had a bad day. The plan called for heels dug into…
Out of the Cave
March 17, 2010
I feel as if I've been hibernating for the last few months. As I stumble out to blue skies and bright sun, I know this: It’s good to be…
Everyday Magic – Summer School Part 3
March 20, 2010
When did most of us stop believing in magic? Was it the same time we stopped discovering castles and dolphins in the clouds? Did we come to…
From the Ashes – Summer School Part 4
May 9, 2010
Several months ago I flew the Cirrus to Montgomery Executive Airport at Virginia Tech to visit my wife on a Saturday night. She spent the…
Life & Whatnot
May 14, 2010
When I started Lessons from the Cockpit last year, my goal was simple: write satisfying stories—I hoped—about lessons I'd learned from…
Colin Hay – A Man Among Men
May 17, 2010
My music collection is eclectic. If there is one thing in life I strive to be, it’s well-rounded—of the mind, that is, not the body. My…
The Sunny Side
May 26, 2010
Yesterday I was guest speaker at the Greensboro Optimist Club. I gave a speech based on my Follow the Glow post I wrote for…
Letting Go – Summer School Final
May 31, 2010
Ah, Memorial Day Weekend. Although not the official start of summer, the holiday typically heralds its imminent approach. With my favorite…
The Weight of the World
June 8, 2010
When non-pilots see the plane I fly, they assume it carries a lot. But everything in life, love, and lift is a tradeoff. If I want to take…
Notes from the Universe
June 21, 2010
I have something to share with you. It’s going to sound strange, but here goes: for a couple of years now, I’ve been getting messages from…
Connected for Life
June 29, 2010
I often speak to groups about networking. People think I have a success secret on it. But I’ll tell you the same…
What Boosts You?
July 11, 2010
My youngest son, Cort, didn’t enjoy his first airplane ride. He was four and from the moment we took off, he kept asking when we’d head…
The Real Questions Are…
July 15, 2010
What do you want to do with your life? What do you really want to do? Why aren't you doing it?
Lift-Off
July 25, 2010
I want to take a moment to thank all the readers of Lessons from the Cockpit. Without you, there'd be no lift to make the…
Dare to Soar
August 9, 2010
Lessons from the Cockpit has a blog exchange this week. Seattle writer Katherine Jenkins wrote the great piece below. Her…
Make the Most of Every Moment
August 23, 2010
College has been a hot topic in our house. Two weeks ago, we moved TJ, our oldest, into the freshmen dorm at Elon University. He arrived…
Find Your Mantra
August 31, 2010
I am reposting the piece I wrote as Lesson 221 for writer Katherine Jenkin's blog, Lessons from the Monk I Married. Hope you enjoy it if…
Detours
September 16, 2010
If you read Don’t Look Back, you know I don’t spend much time fretting about the past. I’ve made enough stupid mistakes to fret…
Universal Perfection
November 22, 2010
Have you ever had moments when you’ve been struck by an intense clarity, a knowing, that we’re all integral parts of something much bigger…
With a Little Help from My Friends
January 2, 2011
A few months ago I wrapped up the fall session of the creative writing class I teach. The last night of class always includes a section…
Just . . . Trust
February 12, 2011
When it comes to chasing our dreams, what are so many of us frightened of? Who made the snide coworker judge and jury? Who made the absent…
How to Overcome Doubt
February 20, 2011
Doubt. It’s arguably the single most insidious obstacle that stands between individuals and their dreams. There’s a wind that’s eager to…
The Most Important Promise
February 27, 2011
Most people I know try to honor the promises they make to others. And if something prevents them from keeping those promises, they feel bad…
Wisdom to Know the Difference
March 9, 2011
There’s an old aviation joke that gets passed down often. It usually surfaces during the required night flight that every student must take…
The Downside of Deadlines
March 18, 2011
In May 2009, I left a high-paying job to write a novel, and I’ve never regretted it one bit. Navigating the traditional publishing…
More Stories to Tell
March 28, 2011
Aviators come from all walks of life with wildly varied personalities. But one thing I’ve noticed is, they all tell great stories.…
Spirituality Guest Post
April 14, 2011
Inspirational speaker and award-winning author Janae Bower co-hosts a blog currently featuring an A-to-Z series on spirituality. This…
Find Your Song
May 1, 2011
I’ve always loved the quote, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” It…
Time Machine Do Over
June 10, 2011
A week ago Friday I found myself at an urgent care facility with my 8 year-old, Cort. Less than 20 minutes before, we’d been at the…
Life On The Outside
July 14, 2011
Who knows why most pilots felt the urge to learn to fly? Perhaps some grew tired of staring at cloud bellies and wanted to see their tops.…
Hope for Humanity
July 24, 2011
There is a person you are meant to be. You know this because you’ve dreamed of it. Perhaps that person is a painter or a photographer.…
Live Your Future Now
August 3, 2011
If you suddenly found yourself with enough money so you no longer had to work, what would you do with your time? When I ask that question…
Get Uncomfortable
September 18, 2011
Fitness has been part of my life for a long time. I’ve worked out enough to have a little insight into building muscle. One absolute truth…
Act On Your Dreams
October 25, 2011
Last Friday morning I flew the Cirrus to Charlottesville, VA to visit a buddy of mine, John Hart. John is an excellent friend and wonderful…
Flawed Beauty: Why You Must Embrace Your Imperfections
December 18, 2011
Several years ago I drove to a friend’s mountain cabin near West Jefferson for ten days to get my novel jump-started. I’d dabbled with the…
Guest Post on “Lessons from the Monk I Married.”
January 7, 2012
I'm please to announce my guest post on Katherine Jenkin's blog, "Lessons from the Monk I Married." Katherine spent every single day of…
Guest Post at EXTRAordinary! Inc.
January 16, 2012
This week I have a guest post on EXTRAordinary! Inc., the website of an excellent friend, Rich Schlentz. I first met Rich after he hired my…
The Write Motivation
February 26, 2012
If you've ever checked out the other tabs on Lessons from the Cockpit, you may have noticed my writing class titled The Write Motivation.…
A Double Life
March 10, 2012
I have a secret to share: I’ve been leading a double life. For many readers of this blog, I’m Christopher Laney, writer. But there’s…
Do It Your Way
March 31, 2012
Six years ago, three friends and I spent a week paddling fifty miles in canoes on the Green River. The stretch of water winds through the…
Lego Wasteland
April 29, 2012
Susan and I spent a recent Saturday cleaning out a few closets in dire need of organizing. One of the closets was in the kid’s playroom,…
Eyes High: A Simple Mood Lifter
June 21, 2012
Whenever I lift my eyes toward the sky, my mood improves. I noticed this a long time ago and have always assumed my fondness of that vast…
From a Distance
June 29, 2012
As I neared my speaking venue, I suddenly regretted not making time to wash my car. The thin film of dust on the vehicle’s black hood…
Live Outside the Lines
July 6, 2012
Life on the ground is often rigid. We spend the better part of our days living between the lines, whether it’s the boundaries of a house or…
Free the Fireflies
August 2, 2012
Summer always reminds me of childhood when I would play outside with friends until dusk and beyond. On many evenings when the light faded,…
Movie Lessons: Almost Famous
September 6, 2012
My friend, David Horne, occasionally writes a “Movie Lessons” segment for his blog. I love these and constantly nag him to write them more…
Book Recommendation: “Lessons from the Monk I Married”
November 21, 2012
I’ve been running full steam over the last six months with a new business but finally found some time to read Katherine Jenkins’ new…
No Small Lives
December 5, 2012
A great actor can transform a bit part into something amazing and memorable. That is why the acting great Stanislavsky said, “There are no…
No “L”
December 25, 2012
It looked as if a forest had exploded. Green pine needles littered our carpet with a trail of them scattered throughout our foyer. This was…
An Empty Space
January 16, 2013
I never thought about the old man until I’d see him on my way home. If the weather was good, he’d be there, sitting on his porch at the…
Nothing is Impossible
February 17, 2013
What in your world do you define as impossible, that you wish weren't? To make a living as a painter? To run your own business? To travel…
Let Nature Spill In
August 4, 2013
Our upstairs air conditioner stopped working one Friday evening in late May. I almost called the repair guy but held off. Waiting until…
The Transmission of You
August 10, 2013
For those of you who still listen to the radio, perhaps you have a favorite station you tune in to on the way to work everyday. What if a…
Expand Your World
August 19, 2013
Conventional wisdom says aquarium fish only grow as large as the tank will support. I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m willing to bet…
Raising Fools
August 28, 2013
We have three boys, all with different personalities yet similar in so many ways. When the oldest was eleven or so, I’d often walk into the…
Raising Fools – Part 2
September 5, 2013
Continued from Raising Fools - Part 1 I’m lying with my upper back flat while the rest of me twists to the left, right knee…
Life Force
September 27, 2013
I’ve penned Lessons from the Cockpit for over four years and in all those posts I don’t believe I’ve written one as important as this. If…
Life Flows
October 3, 2013
Continued from Life Force: There must be an easier way. Those words sifted through my mind five years ago as I sat on the front steps…
The Current of Life
October 17, 2013
In my last post I promised ideas to help you flow with life versus forcing it. If you’ve been trying to force life to happen…
What Some Call Failure, the Successful Call Experience
October 29, 2013
Failure can be a scary thing. Most of us sense it lurking at the edge of anything important we try to accomplish. It also has a particular…
Get Out of Your Head
March 5, 2014
“Stop staring at the instrument panel,” my flight instructor said, finger pointing to the blue stretch of sky beyond the windshield.…
Remember What You Came Here to Do
July 4, 2014
I’m a sucker for a distraction. I often walk into my home office with a specific purpose in mind only to waste precious time doing…
How to Foster Peace and Limit Stress
August 24, 2014
When I started training for my pilot license, I was amazed at how I felt after a flight ended. If I ever lifted off from a bleak world, one…
A Magical Power
September 17, 2014
Hundreds of years ago, remote communication on earth didn’t extend beyond smoke signals, drums in the night, or the written and spoken word…
The Bright Side of Storms
October 5, 2014
Pilots of small planes give thunderstorms a wide berth. Accidentally flying into a brewing system is feared by many aviators and I’m no…
No Coincidences
November 9, 2014
Have you ever watched a movie that follows multiple characters over a period of time as they unknowingly weave in and out of each others…
Watch the Moments
February 2, 2015
Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves. My friend’s dad used to say that often. It sounds old-fashioned in this day…
When a Flaw Becomes a Strength
May 26, 2015
I drive through an old neighborhood on my way to the office and back every day. It’s the highlight of my commute because I like to pass…
A Course in Nature
June 15, 2015
From the deck of our oceanfront rental, I watched my boys play in the sand. “Play” is probably the wrong word. Looked more like work to me.…
What Fills Your World?
October 18, 2015
I sometimes envy people who travel the world with everything they own slung over their shoulders in a backpack. How carefree it must be to…
Why You Should Keep a Journal and How It Will Change Your Life
February 29, 2016
If there is one activity that has vastly improved my life in multiple ways, it’s journaling. I’ve mentioned this to numerous people who’ve…
The Best Ways to Find Shark Teeth at the Beach
May 31, 2016
I’ve been addicted to hunting shark teeth on beaches for a long time. The activity is meditative and helps clears my mind, at least until…
How to Rise Above the Storm Clouds in Life
August 28, 2016
How do you feel when you walk outside to a bright blue sky? Good? I do. What if the day is dark, with rainclouds hanging low? Different…
Three Concepts Aspiring Writers Should Know (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)
September 19, 2017
More people than you’d think harbor dreams of writing. This is apparent to me because when someone learns about my experience, I often…
Talk Some Nonsense Into Me
April 9, 2018
For readers who know me only from the blog, in my other life I run an information technology firm that helps multi-billion dollar…
Procrastination Paradox: Why Done is Better than Great
May 22, 2018
Procrastination sucks. If there is one thing that has slowed me down in life more than I care to admit, even though I’m doing so now, it’s…
Mistakes Fuel Growth (The Pianist Who Almost Wasn’t)
July 7, 2018
Hate making mistakes? Me too. But unless you never attempt anything hard, making mistakes comes with living a full life. I've made a lot of…
What to Do if You Want the Benefits of Meditation but Have Trouble Doing It
April 14, 2020
Does the world really need another post on meditation? Probably not. But there’s a reason it gets lots of attention...
Why You Must Believe in Yourself
April 16, 2020
There are probably many people in your life who believe in your ability to succeed. Mom or dad or the significant other. But those...
Sometimes You Gotta Make a Mess to Make Something Beautiful
May 13, 2020
Life is messy. We spend our time trying to organize the chaos into something recognizable, but messiness will always be part of it,…
My Favorite Parenting Advice
May 28, 2020
Parenting is hard. Really hard. By the time we have kids, most of us haven’t figured out what we want from our own lives after decades of…