Going from Autopilot to a Test Pilot

How would you drive if you were told, “Don’t worry, you have brakes, but you’re the first one to ever try them”? What does your hike look like when you’re off the beaten path and lose all markers, signs, any other hikers, or boot prints? How long does it take to jump off the top of a waterfall when you look down and see what seems like deep enough water, but have no idea if anyone has ever jumped this? Rarely do we speed up or drift off into autopilot. It becomes a laser-focused, fully dilated moment, scoping the surroundings like a wild cat as the brain pinballs through all the possible dangers and contingency plans. However, being too analytical can completely freeze you up and keep you from taking any risk at all. I think a successful test pilot is that perfect recipe of analytical and insane. So insatiably curious, the idea of not trying isn’t even an option.

A crazy kid named Jimmy Doolittle built a glider, jumped off a cliff, and crashed, only to get back up, put the pieces together, and do it again. There were way more crashes than successes, but also the exact number of crashes needed to finally figure out how to fly successfully from takeoff to landing, only referring to his instruments. This is now regarded as the first single step in safety for all aircraft. Before Neil Armstrong was asked to join NASA, he was another crazy kid, during his test pilot days he flew more than 200 different models of aircraft. Then he was asked to fly a “space plane” fresh off the design platform. I wouldn’t even test drive a new toilet model, especially if they called it a “space toilet.”

This weekend we also came out of our comforts of autopilot. We went to the outer edge of Vashon Island, deep in the wild lavender, where a raccoon greets you with a key to your cabin. I found this place out of desperation because we did that thing again, where my husband's birthday was coming up, and he was dragging his feet committing to any plans. So we hid under the hood of our busy weeks and reserved nothing. At the last minute, I slapped the keyboard on an impulsive Airbnb rental. The decision to reserve was all test pilot brain, very little autopilot. Next thing you know, we're driving off the ferry, heading towards the deep unknown, not totally sure what the bed situation was like or what the refrigeration or insulation situation was like. We knew there was a toilet, although it doesn't flush—it incinerates (omg it's a thing, look it up!). It was exactly 106 very steep questionable steps to get down to our cabin. Once we were out the literal weeds, the tree clearing perfectly framed our home for the next two nights. It was gorgeous. We weren't just on the sound, we were IN it.

I'm not going to say it was the most glitch-free weekend ever; of course, it came with a couple of hang-ups when you stay in a modest cabin in the wilderness—or the most luxurious landing pad for large hawks. Our 6-year-old made it very clear her little body "doesn't do air mattresses." She made it a point to remind us of this ALL NIGHT LONG. We also had a couple of not-small spiders make their way in that made my husband squeal. The incinerator toilet left a distinct smell and sound of roaring fire under the cabin, which was a little unsettling at first. All little things that a test pilot would expect and welcome. It's a chance to test your vessel, your tenacity, and fully lap up your environment. By the last night, we didn't just get used to these things but were pros. We filled up our courage and that air mattress, and we just really took to that special place. Even started to prefer that "space toilet."

This week in the studio we won’t jump out a window and try to fly, or go on any off-the-grid adventure, don’t worry. But you might find yourself starting a move where you're wondering, “Where is this going…and once it gets going, where are the brakes?” We will move with caution and courage, like how we moved going down the 106 steep steps towards our weekend adventure. That perfect recipe of analytical and insane. If we have more flops than flights, like our friend Jimmy Doolittle, we’ll put the pieces back together and do it again.🛩🔥.

Life has its failures, but this was not it. The only true failure can come if you quit.

- Andrea Beaty, Rosie Revere the Great Engineer

Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and turn off autopilot so that you can tap into your test pilot.

XO,

Celeste