Great quote from the movie "Three Kings"

The movie itself was decent, take it or leave it, although George Clooney did a great job as usual. However, there was one exchange between Archie Gates (Clooney) and Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze) which is just great:

Archie Gates: You're scared, right?
Conrad Vig: Maybe.
Archie Gates: The way it works is, you do the thing you're scared shitless of, and you get the courage AFTER you do it, not before you do it.
Conrad Vig: That's a dumbass way to work. It should be the other way around.
Archie Gates: I know. That's the way it works.


At first glance, it doesn't seem like that inspiring a message, but once you think about it, it's the perfect way to operate when something is worrying you. Sometimes you've got to just take that leap you don't want to take and hopefully, the payoff will make it all the better.

Which is why I'm kicking this thread

Now they will tell you that pilots are never 'afraid'.
But some do admit to EXTREMELY high levels of...um...APPREHENSION at times.

I had such a feeling when being briefed for my very first air-to-air refueling mission.
And in a single seat fighter with NO instructor sitting behind me.

Just me and my airplane and the tanker.
"Holy SHIT! WHAT am I doing here?"
Yes, I felt that EXTREME APPREHENSION I'd heard about.
And the first time was pretty shakey.
But I did it.
And the next time was better, and the next, and the next.
And soon it was 'piece a' cake, no sweat'.