The idea of building a plane as you fly it always sounded a little scary to me, like something you probably should not attempt to do if you don’t want to fall out of the sky. But if you really really really want to fly? What do you do then?

The ironic part of this building a place cliche is that I’m pretty sure the Wright brothers did fly the plane as they were building it. I only assume they put the wings on first before they attempted anything resembling the first flight, but maybe they didn’t! I know there were 

quite a few prototypes that didn’t get off the ground. 

And then you get to the prototypes that did fly.  There’s no way you look at that very first one that flew and think, oh wow a plane, just like today! I personally was always amazed that it got off the ground at all. 

And then, on the other hand, there is Nike telling us to just do the thing. Sell sneakers out of the back of your trunk until someone believes in you. Convince Michael Jordan to sign a contract and ultimately create the most iconic shoe in the world. Sounds kind of like Phil Knight was flying the plane as he built it. 

Just by itself, flying the plane as you build it isn’t always a bad thing, but I’ve always gotten the feeling that it was for some reason. Like, if the pilot in this hypothetical was any smarter or any more responsible, he would be building a plane, finishing building the plane, and then flying the plane as if this is some sort of linear path and obvious choice.  I know we as humans love a linear path and a guaranteed result, so I get why one part of this fantasy feels really good.  But what if it’s all a lie? What if you physically cannot finish building any plane until after you fly it?

What if you can’t decide which doll you like until you try all of them all at once?

No one’s building you a plane. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to put the wings on your half built plane before you want to fly.

OK, I’m rolling my eyes again. I am really late to the party.  I’ve known my whole life that I am responsible for my life. I thought I understood that.  But part of me that really thought that someone was going to build me a plane, or that I could fully build my plane before flying it. It’s really dangerous to fly a half built plane! Building a plane while flying it sounds like a terrible idea and I have not been interested or available for such nonsense! Until I see the error in my ways of course. I think there’s a chance that the plane wouldn’t have even been invented if they waited to build the first one before even attempting flight?  I know I know, I’m sick of this plane metaphor too, but it’s such a great visual. No wonder this trope has been running around my head rent free for the last 29 years. 

If you're risk averse like me, I know we’re not alone. Human nature favors certainty and control. But what if this desire for comfort is what has been holding us back!? Thank you for holding up this mirror, even if it’s showing me what I don’t really want to see. 

Now, today, I’m changing my mind. I want to build the plane as I fly it. Maybe I just need to change the cliché to some much less dangerous, like find the silver lining of the cloud when it’s raining? Feed two birds with one scone while I bake it? OK OK maybe I should stay away from the clichés. 

In the meantime,  I’ll just be over here, building away! 

xoxo always,

Lauren

PS. Yes, today, we release scared (to own my body), which is the track my good friend Dan Pinho made for me. If you’ve seen me live this year, you’ve heard this song.  If you like summertime sadness, you’re gonna like this one! 

THANKS FOR READING!