SEPTEMBER 2005
Pilots Are
Happy People
We
recently attended a fly-in/picnic at a
private airstrip on a farm near Mabel
Lake. Apart from several area pilots,
neighbors from the entire valley are
invited and everyone brings food. It's an
annual event hosted by the owner of the
little farm, Leroy Proctor. He and his
neighbors welcome pilots with gracious,
friendly hospitality. The pilots mingled
freely with the area residents,
exchanging greetings and information in
the warm August sunshine. We met some
interesting, fine folks on that glorious
day, and it's one event we'd like to plan
for again next year.
With
plenty of spare time on my hands, even
without sitting on a remote mountain top,
I sometimes find my mind wanders and
wonders about things that normal people
probably don't think about too much.
Consider the question, "Are pilots
really happier than non-pilots, or is it
my imagination?"
Certainly
there are many specific factors which
make someone happy, and there is actually
a lot of scientific research on it. Money
usually comes to mind when the topic is
discussed, which doesn't make sense
because if you\rquote re a pilot (general
aviation, private pilot) you likely don't
have money. But it's been shown that it's
not the money that makes you happy, it's
the status the money buys that does it.
Understanding that illustrates more
clearly why a pilot is generally a happy
person, because agree or disagree, pilots
enjoy a certain high status in our
society. And that's not because we're any
better than the next person, it's just a
fact of life. Whatever we do to earn it
is rooted in our own feelings prior to
our flying careers. We all held airmen in
high esteem back then, and the rest of
the people still do it to us today. We
were reminded of that and humbled by all
the attention from the people at the
picnic.
More
scientific surveys show there is a
genetic connection which determines how
happy we are too. Apparently, some of us
are actually born happy, while others are
not. Consider all the factors that make
us happy, and genetics is the strongest.
It rates up there even above flying! Go
figure.
We've
all heard that marriage makes people
happy. I suppose if your 35 year old
daughter or son who still lives at home
announces he/she is getting married and
moving out, you'd be very happy. Studies
from many countries reveal that married
people are consistently happier than
singles. The question remains, does
marriage make you happy or are happy
people more likely to get married?
Another
happiness determining factor is age. When
people are asked to respond to
questionnaires regarding their emotional
status, older people consistently report
more positive emotions. Why? Well, by now
most of us can relate to living w ith
more realistic goals, and have learned to
focus on things that make us happy,
probably because we know time is running
out, and we have to let go of the bad
things in life, things that don't really
matter anymore. Like the golf handicap,
the latest fashions, or how we look in
the mirror.
Where
is all this rambling going you ask? Well,
it's nothing more than a consideration of
happiness. Conclusion? Pilots who are
old, rich and married are indeed more
likely to be almost as happy as those
wonderful farm people who host
flyin/picnics for us. I salute you folks,
and can speak for all the fellows who fly
by saying thank you all for a most
enjoyable day.
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