Galley Gossip: Improve your travel with Bruce Lee

Filed under: Airlines, Books, Transportation, Travel Health, Galley Gossip

The following quotes are from the book Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living by John Little.

1. Something for nothing - "There is only something for something, never something for nothing."

Think about that next time you feel nickel and dimed by an airline. Ticket prices are less than they were twenty years ago, so in the end you're still paying the same price you were in 1992, maybe even less. Keep in mind the Barbie Glam Vacation Jet costs $119.99 at ToysRus. That's more than most one way tickets.

2. Emptiness is the starting point - "In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. Drop all your preconceived fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is so useful? Because it is empty!"

Don't let what happened on your last flight affect your next flight. Often passengers will board and immediately want to rehash the details of what went wrong on another trip. Things don't usually go so well from here. How could it? I've just been linked to the worst flight ever!

3. "Is" vs. "Should" - "What IS is more important than WHAT SHOULD BE. Too many people are looking at "what is" from a position of thinking "what should be."

To become a flight attendant one must be flexible. Being able to quickly adapt to change is essential on the job. If there's one thing we can count on in the aviation industry, it's something is bound to go wrong. This is why we always have back up plans A, B, C, and D, even when we're traveling off the clock. So next time something doesn't seem to be going right, do what a flight attendant would do and instead of getting upset about what should be happening, focus on what is happening, and start making alternative plans - QUICKLY! Before all the hotel rooms are booked and the rental agencies run out of cars.

4. Anxiety - Anxiety is the gap between the NOW and the THEN. So if you are in the now, you can't be anxious, because your excitement flows immediately into ongoing spontaneous activity.

I can spot a fearful flier a mile away. If they're not asking about the weather, they're clutching the armrest and sweating profusely. A little unknown fact is more people die falling off of donkeys than they do in plane crashes. Remember that next time you start to feel anxious. Focus on the fact that you're sitting in a somewhat uncomfortable seat and drinking the beverage of your choice. There's probably even a very nice person sitting beside you. That is if you try to get to know them. If that doesn't work, tell a flight attendant what's going on and we'll do what we can to help. We're trained professionals. That's what we're there for.

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Galley Gossip: Improve your travel with Bruce Lee originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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