The Upside of Jet Lag
Would you sacrifice some of your longevity and health--risk memory loss, digestive issues, and possibly diabetes--to not only see this twice a day, on a regular basis, but to find yourself soaring straight through the middle of it?
This is the question that Patrick Smith, a pilot, faces on a daily basis, according to an NPR story about the health consequences of jet lag.
To Smith, who runs the site askthepilot.com, the trade-off is worth it. When we fly, we transcend our world. He says,
There are certain moments when you're flying and maybe you see the sunset twice in a six hour period...I recently flew Los Angeles to Taipei, Taiwan, and from the time I arrived in Los Angeles to the time when I landed in Taipei, I think I endured 20-something hours of straight darkness....
Once upon a time, it took you weeks to cross the ocean in a sailing ship. But now we can do it in a matter of hours, traveling hundreds of miles per hour above the earth in almost perfect safety too.
A couple of years ago, I was on a flight from Newark to London, and my plane flew through a sunrise. It was a spectacular sight--heavenly and unforgettable. I can understand where Smith is coming from.
- Comment (4)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
May '10
Re: The Upside of Jet Lag
One of the prettiest sights I ever saw was a sunrise over the Atlantic on my way to Europe. Not a cloud or strip of land around... just sunlight playing over the waves. Truly beautiful.
Re: The Upside of Jet Lag
That sounds very much like what I saw, but there were a few clouds that reflected the stunning shades and colors coming from the setting sun.
May '10
Re: The Upside of Jet Lag
The other thing that makes it so awe-inspiring over the ocean is the open horizon that lets one see for miles and miles. It makes one feel small, yet delightfully so.
My church always has a sunrise Mass on Easter. Everyone brings lawnchairs and blankets in the dim light, and we celebrate the return of the sun/Son. If it's not too cold and wet, that could be a nice family tradition for Christmas, too.
Re: The Upside of Jet Lag
Aaron Miller: The other thing that makes it so awe-inspiring over the ocean is the open horizon that lets one see for miles and miles. It makes one feel small, yet delightfully so.
My church always has a sunrise Mass on Easter. Everyone brings lawnchairs and blankets in the dim light, and we celebrate the return of the sun/Son. If it's not too cold and wet, that could be a nice family tradition for Christmas, too. · Dec 23 at 11:46am
I've always wanted to go a sunrise Mass. Maybe this Easter I will.
I've also always wanted to go on a sunrise hike. I'll wait 'til it gets warmer for that though!