Do Your Part

On By Gregory HakeIn Observations on Life

In January 2009, Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson river after a mid-air collision with a flock of birds. Everyone survived. You have likely heard Captain Sullenberger’s story, but for the first time we have a chance to hear from Ric Elias, who was sitting in the front row of that flight.

Ric’s realizations are important. Forged in an emergency, as life-changing moments often are, Ric describes the three things he learned in those few precious minutes before the plane crashed in this chilling, yet inspiring clip:

Ric Elias, Flight 1549

Have you had such a moment in your life, or courtesy of the life of another close to you, a moment where you come to terms with what really matters and finally turn your back on what does not? Your lifespan – for better or for worse – is relatively short and the sooner you realize how absolutely precious each moment is, the better.

Make the most of your day today and be at rest with anything which detracts from that goal. Focus your energy on building creative momentum, rather than obsessing about that over which you have no control. Relinquish your death grip on the past, stay on your toes in the present and keep an eye and an ear trained on the future.

If you wait for the big moment to happen, you’ll likely be twiddling your thumbs for a long time. If you handle the little things right before your eyes to perfection (or as close to it as you can), handling the big things will be just another walk in the park. Nota bene: any victory in life, whether it is your own or that of one of your fellows, creates momentum for the entire body of humanity.

Do your part to conserve that momentum. Once you do, you’ll find it hard to be satisfied with mere conservation. Believe me, you’ll be inspired to add to the momentum by creatively handling every single situation that comes your way.

8 thoughts on “Do Your Part”

  1. Ahmed's avatar Ahmed

    I was watching Ric Elias’s video on Ted talk today and I saw ur post in the comment section. I hesitated to come to ur blog and closed the browser. Then I remembred what Ric said, came back and read your post. The concept “momentum”. You have explained is very critical. It is also important to realise that we don’t have to wait for something to happen to change ourselves. We can learn from the people around us. Thank you for this post, I learned a lot from it. Your post is: short, understandable and powerful. Cheers

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  3. Kai Newell's avatar Kai Newell

    I wasn’t able to access the TED link, but I can imagine the impact an event like that could have to redirect the expenditure of one’s life energy. I like the notion that the momentum of the individual is connected to the whole of humanity. It puts individual responsibility to the whole of humanity. Gives me pause to look at the bigger picture to see where my creative efforts may be put to best use, and not let it be conditioned by ego. Great topic today!

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  4. Coco's avatar Coco

    Thanks for the reminder. When I hear people say we have to make our own mistakes it makes me think of how much ground is lost. We will make mistakes but let’s learn from others mistakes and successes. We each don’t have to have his dire experience to put his valuable experience to use in our lives.

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    1. Brad's avatar Brad

      I agree Coco – too much ground lost with the idea that we each have to make our own mistakes – why not build on the experience of others and add to the victory momentum of the body of humanity

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  5. Kolya's avatar Kolya

    I like your point about conserving momentum. I have seen so many opportunities where momentum has been created and then not utilized. If we do take advantage of today and the present moment, I think that we’d see more clearly those opportunities that you mention (the little things) and are the real areas of leverage in our lives.

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