Page 89 - Never Fly Solo

62 | NEVER FLY SOLO
fact that I was going to have to strap into the F-16 for four to
six hours at a time, mostly at night, was all but unbearable.
The fear of having a panic attack dragged me down, and I
spent many days depressed and tense. Others could sense this
in me, but I couldn’t share it with anyone in the squadron.
When things got really tough for me and I had a lot on my
shoulders, I would pick up the phone and call my twin brother,
Dave.
“I’m scared, Dave,” I would say. “I don’t know if I can
fly today. I’m really stressed. Help me out, bro.” It was
humbling.
He would always respond eagerly. “Rob, you can do this.
You did it before, and you’ll do it again! Go make me proud.
Be strong. You’re a fighter pilot!”
Though he never said it in so many words, in essence
what he was telling me was, “I believe in you.”
He was my wingman. He pulled me up. He lifted me.
With him, I knew I wasn’t flying solo.
In these stressful times, where doubt and fear and anxiety
are ever-present, we need people who can lift us up, not drag
us down. We need comrades of courage who can pull us out
of our dungeon of doubt. We need coworkers and loved ones,
even strangers, who will give us the courage to strap on our
jets, face our fears, and fly the tough missions.
We need partners at home and at work who are open to
hearing three of the most important words in the English lan-
guage: “I need help.”
“Mayday! Mayday!” is the wingman’s call to action.
Right now someone needs you to be her or his wingman.
I hope you’ll answer the call.