Inspiration Corner

Carole Spiers - The Empowerment Guru grows successful people. An International Female Keynote Speaker, Conference Chair and Business Mentor who helps you to achieve step by step success with inspiration and motivation. www.carolespiers.com

Just seconds after take-off, suddenly our lives are in danger.

5th January arrived and it was time for us to leave our South African friends behind, telling them that we would see them again, hopefully in the Spring.

Leaving Cape Town international airport in brilliant sunshine, we were tired after a day’s traveling by car. But our trip had been a great success. We had re-visited townships and old friends and had spent time satisfyingly providing essential business skills workshops to local communities.

We board the 747 hoping that the night flight would get off on time and our journey be uneventful. We could not have been more wrong.

Sitting in the upper deck just aft of the flight-deck, we strapped ourselves in and were disappointed to learn there would be a delay of about an hour as they attempted to fix a computer problem with the electrics. We watched as the technicians and cabin crew went back and forth along the aisle and the door to the pilot’s cabin opens and closes and we all look on anxiously. We are leaving late – that much we knew, but we were not aware of the problems that were actually being experienced on the flight-deck. Computers are shut down and rebooted until finally the engineers give the OK.

We are late, but we might be able to make that time up and so shouldn’t arrive too late into London.

The engines rev, waiting for the final OK from the Cape Town control tower and we lurch forward along the runway, gathering speed for take-off. Rising slowly, ever so slowly, off the ground, there are three bangs in quick succession – not loud but nevertheless frightening enough to indicate that something clearly had malfunctioned.

The plane starts to shake as we climb and we feel an immediate chill creep up our spines as our brain tries to come to terms with the fact that our lives may be in immediate danger.

The PA system breaks into our consciousness. The pilot’s voice, steady but with a heavy South African accent, informs us that we have lost one of the engines and that we will be turning back to Cape Town airport after dumping 50 tonnes of fuel. The loudspeaker goes dead. The young woman next to us starts to cry and I try to comfort her, as I hold Michael’s hand tight.

The 747 continues to gain altitude, however, and after about thirty anxious minutes, the captain comes on again to tell us that everything is under control, that he has been instructed to fly on to Johannesburg – instead of returning to Cape Town – as there they have facilities for repairing the engine and where we will have to disembark to stay overnight. However, we still have to dump fuel before arriving but the good news is that we will not now have to make an emergency landing. The captain thinks the engine damage might have been caused by a bird entering the engine at take-off.

The passenger next to me is still upset so my own personal thoughts and anxiety fall away to give her support. Some people stay in control and others don’t – we all react differently in a time of crisis.

Within a short space of time (which seemed like an eternity), we are flying to JB where land safely with the expert direction of our captain.

We land – we clap – we look around at each other – with the gratitude that one can only experience when one comes out the other side of a traumatic situation. We, and others, say a silent prayer of thanks. Life looks somehow more valuable than just an hour ago.

But why is it that only at times of trauma, do we thank God for life and living. Why is it only at times of trauma or crisis, are we there for each other….why is it that it is often only at times of trauma, we view our lives with a different perspective?

Our learning can only be that we should bless each and every day of life, just as if we are on a plane that might have to crash land.

If you want to make changes in your life, then do it now…..if you have dreams, make sure that they become a reality….don’t wait for a crisis to focus your mind on your future! Don’t wait for happenings – make sure you make them happen.

Be positive, knowing full well that this is in itself not enough to bring about change because you need to have strategies and step-by-step plans that are followed through, for them to really happen. If you want to bring about change, then you need to know how to make it last.

So grab the day (carpe diem), go forward – write down what it is that is really important to you and put it into practice. Say the words out loud and only then will they become a reality.

Live your life and appreciate what is precious to you each and every day.

You don’t have to wait for an aircraft emergency to focus your mind – but regrettably, we often do…

Carole Spiers - The Empowerment Guru grows successful people. An International Female Keynote Speaker, Conference Chair and Business Mentor who helps you to achieve step by step success with inspiration and motivation. http://www.carolespiers.com/