passion

Armstrong’s last presentation

By Dave English

“Like that of Ulysses, each of our lives is a miniature Odyssey, going to new places, seeing new things, understanding new ideas, and each day penetrating the biggest unkown of all: tomorrow. For each of us it should be, and can be, an exciting voyage. Buen Viaje!” Neil Armstrong, 2011. The picture is from his last public presentation at the first Starmus Festival on the island of Tenerife, 24 June 2011. The quote is from his submission to the 2014 book Starmus: 50 Years of Man in Space.

Jack Kornfield on Paragliding

By Dave English

I had no idea about this. Listening to a repeat of a Tim Ferriss podcast with famed Buddhist writer and teacher Jack Kornfield, he expressed his love of … paragliding: “One of my favorite things is to tandem paraglide and go off the top of places like Grindlewold in Switzerland, where you can take the ski lift up 9,000 feet and then jump off and float silently, like you’re a bird among the clouds. The birds actually do come by sometimes and check out, what’s this big bird flying up here? You can catch thermals and go way up above the … Continue reading Jack Kornfield on Paragliding

Come Fly With Me — Herb Alpert

By Dave English

“I play it just about every day of my life–not because I have to, but because it’s something that gives me pleasure. That’s what I tell kids when they ask what’s the secret to being successful in the music industry. If you’re not really passionate about what you’re doing or if you’re doing it because there are some benefits like attracting chicks, forget it, man. While you’re sleeping someone else is practicing who wants the exact same thing you want.” Herb Alpert, interview for his (fantastic) album Come Fly With Me, by KC Ifeanyi in Fast Company, 2015. “You never … Continue reading Come Fly With Me — Herb Alpert

I just like to be

By Dave English

“I just like to be up in the air, and the feeling of being a part of the plane.” John Coward John started in Tiger Moths, flew for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and then British Airways, ending his career going around the world in B707s. On retirement, he flew gliders in Wales. Quoted in the wonderful 2018 book Skybound.