Photo: kevin dooley

This is #56 of 108 Ways to Livin the Moment. Let’s take back our lives one beautiful, funny and delicious moment at a time!

#56 of 108: Learn How To Handle a Short Runway

The following are the five most dangerous runways in the world.

#1. Kathmandu Airport, Nepal

Sirens inform folks for miles when an airplane is landing here, and as you would suspect, only helicopters and Twin Otter type planes can handle the 2,000 foot, uphill runway that is fenced off at the end, to protect you from the edge of a mountain cliff.

Photo: ilkerender

#2. Saba Island Airport, Netherland Antilles

The locals claim that this is the shortest commercial airport runway in the world. There are not any overrun areas on either end of the paved runway where sheer cliffs immediately drop off over 200 feet into the sea.

Photo: sahniz

#3. Saint Maarten Airport

The airport is famous for its short runway at only 2,400 meters it is barely long enough for heavy jets to land. Therefore, incoming airplanes approaching the island have to fly extremely low, passing only 10-20 meters over relaxing tourists on Maho Beach.

Photo: Mike Roberts NYC

#4. Lesotho Airport, Africa

The runway in Lesotho is perhaps the most frightening in the world. Not so much the altitude (2,300 meters) and the short length (400 m) is a nightmare, especially the 600 meter deep cliff at the end is amazingly scary.

 

Photo: privatejetscharter.net

#5. Courchevel Airport, France

Courchevel’s airport has a certain degree of infamy in the aviation industry as home to one of the shortest runways in the world. The airport has a dangerous approach through deep valleys which can only be performed by specially certified pilots.

Photo: skyscrapercity.com

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What’s with the short runways, you ask?

One yogi writes, “The last moment of your life is the totality of all the years you have lived. That is the time, that is the moment you decide, when you make your destiny for the next lifetime.”

That is why Gandhi, in his moment of death, said “Ram, Ram, Ram” or “God, God, God.” It was as if, having been shot, Gandhi was left with no time and no runway, but being the masterful pilot of his destiny, he managed to touch down with Grace.

I like to expand upon that and consider the first and last moment of each day as the most important.

We each have a small window, a short runway in those moments when we wake up and just before we go to sleep, to start and finish the day with a touch of beauty.

In those first and last moments, we choose:

• Upon waking up, do you set the tone for the day by taking off with positive vibrations and powerful visions of the day to come, even if the kids are screaming, the gadgets are buzzing, and everyone is awake before you?
• Before going to sleep, do you land softly and smoothly with an evening ritual or mention of gratitude, even if the conditions are harsh and the landing strip is short?

As English poet William Henley famous wrote, “You are the captain of your ship, the master of your soul.”

Before we can take flight and achieve the New Year’s Resolutions we all dream of: the weight loss, the better business practices, the deeper relationships, we have to learn how to take off and land.

 

Need practice with your take-offs and landings?

The landing strip for the soul takes place at home.

That’s why I’ve decided that most of my retreats in 2013 will not take place in a faraway destination, but rather in the comfort of your living room.

My In-Home Retreat takes place January 25-26. It’s all about taking a few days to get warm and cozy in the middle of Winter.

No major commitments. Only $75 for a retreat to the most exotic place in the world with possibly the hardest to reach landing strip of all.

Curious?

1:11

On January 11, The Momenteer Movement springs to life. The mission is simple: to show up fully for the moments that matter most. Be ready for the big launch and the very simple commitment of taking a minute each day at 1:11 p.m. to celebrate life.

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Ed: K.B.