Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2016!
Thursday, 31 December 2015
Commitment to Create Change
Happy New Year 2016
This is the year to Find Courage,
and Commit to taking that Leap!
Each year I write many resolutions. 2015 brought a new book, Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life, and I finished the third novel of a series: Flight For Survival, and a children's book: I Am Awesome, the ABCs of Me. I also finished a full year of school. But what happens next, in 2016, will take courage.
My friend sent me this picture of her jump off the tallest building in the world. She amazes me at her fearlessness, and her strength in all that she does. When I told her as much she said...
My friend sent me this picture of her jump off the tallest building in the world. She amazes me at her fearlessness, and her strength in all that she does. When I told her as much she said...
"Sometimes it is better NOT to look before you leap!
You just have to commit and go for it."
I always wondered what propels someone to jump off a building, I learned it takes courage. Sometimes that proverbial building is the courage to face your fears such as publishing a book, investing your life savings in your dream, quitting your job to follow your passion, public speaking, or taking a stand for what is right, because nobody else will. Jumping off the building means doing those things that create fear, despite the fear.
As I re-read the commitment chapter in Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life, I was reminded that commitment is a choice, and follow-through is an action. By harnessing the energy of both, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. But it takes facing our fears to find courage to jump. Fear happens to be the first chapter in this book, but also the first chapter in life. To create change often takes facing your fears. 
As many of you have read my post, If I Had One Wish For Aviation, I am on a mission to support our industry. Addressing the pilot shortage, and creating sustainable pilot jobs worth having, is key to safety. This means encouraging the best of the best to join the field of aviators. We must realize that pilots are people too, and people with lives in their hands during their daily work. Positive mental health cannot be overlooked. 
Pilot training is essential to safe operations. Technological advancement has brought reduced training due to aircraft automation, because our aircraft self report, and operate with computers. However, the pilot must know more, not less, with automated aircraft when the aircraft breaks. While training is expensive, technology has created opportunities to improve learning, and should be used. 
NextGen is on the horizon where new threats are looming. Added complexity, and pilot managed separation will create potential for error. SMS- Safety Management Systems- are mandated to be in place by 2018, and yet safety culture is an essential ground floor requirement. We have new threats with drones flying in our airspace, and the next level of terrorism. What we can control is how we manage our safety systems and processes within our airlines. This journey has taken me to earning a PhD in Aviation with focus on safety. What needs to be changed? This year take time to read all three novels in the series. You will understand the challenges. True courage will come when I publish the non-fiction book. The essence of which may be woven throughout the pages of these novels.
I will have the courage to stand up for what is right, despite the fear of what may happen. Besides, experience creates resilience and safety management systems are designed to be proactive. There is no excuse to not do the right thing.
This is the year that I push through
the doors of fear, and create change necessary to improve aviation safety!
What is your resolution?
If you don't have one, or want another...
commit to joining me on
the Fight For Safety!
What about the Future?
World change comes from education
and inspiring our children.
Health and Happiness
throughout the New Year!
Enjoy the Journey!
XO Karlene
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
Personal Reflections and New Year Resolutions for Kids
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---------------------------------------Before you begin writing your new year resolutions, it is important for students to reflect on their past year. This blog post will motivate students to reflect while giving teachers some fun activity ideas.
How about a pep talk from Kid President?!
So how do we put our reflective thoughts into writing?
Here is a FREE worksheet to help your students reflect on the past year:
Click HERE for this free download.
Once your students have engaged in some personal reflection, they are ready to write goals or resolutions for the new year. Your students will love this interactive notebook activity. You may use it as a stand along activity or include it in their interactive notebooks.
Click HERE to see this new year activity in our store.
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You may also like these new year activities found in our store:
January Writing Prompts Task Cards
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You may also like these Amazon products from our affiliate store:
Squirrel's New Year's Resolution
(Best Seller on Amazon)
New Years Eve Party
Great for Dramatic Play Centers or as Writing Prompts
New Year Scavenger Hunt
Students will enjoy playing this on cold, snowy days during indoor recess!
You may also like these new year activities found in our store:
You may also like these Amazon products from our affiliate store:
Squirrel's New Year's Resolution
(Best Seller on Amazon)
New Years Eve Party
Great for Dramatic Play Centers or as Writing Prompts
Your students will be excited to start the new year in your classroom!
New Year Scavenger Hunt
Students will enjoy playing this on cold, snowy days during indoor recess!
Every student can have one!
---------------------------------------
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2015 wrap up
Well this is it - the end of another year.
I always nice to look back and see what I've done and achieved over the past year - so here's my wrap up from
Creating my way to Success 2015
Tutorials
I added several new sewing tutorials this year - here are a few of my favourites!
Clothes Upcycling Challenge
My main project this year was to upcycle a whole pile of clothes from last year's school carnival
into things to sell for this year's carnival.
You can read how that all went here.
Teach your kids to sew E-book
I also produced a new sewing E-book this year - this time showing how you can teach your kids to sew, using an old pair of jeans - also encouraging upcycling.
For more details and to buy this or my other E-book - go here.
And finally, to finish the year off, I received an email this week from AllFreeSewing to say I was one of the top bloggers for 2015!
My 15 minute apron pattern made it into the 100 most popular patterns of the year! Even though this post was written 2 years ago - it's nice to see it's still popular and bringing new readers through to my blog!
I'm really happy with what I managed to achieve this year, and after a break over the festive season I'm refreshed and ready to start 2016 with lots of new plans and projects!
Thanks for following along this year - I love reading all of your comments, and seeing many of you on my Facebook page where I do linger most days!
I hope you've all had a great 2015 too and that I'll see you again in 2016.
Tuesday, 29 December 2015
Flight For Survival
Flying into your hands soon!
I don't know how I will finish my third novel in one month, let alone during Christmas time. I was helping my friend with her book, working on the children's book, I Am Awesome, the ABC's of Being Me, had shopping, kids coming to town, and a mini trip with my husband. I was on reserve and could be called out at a moments notice. Once school picked up again in January, I would be too busy.
Join me on New Years Day
For the Resolution of 2016!
My Novels are an integral part of the resolution.
Join the Journey!
I was finishing a quarter of school while on a trip, during finals week. November 29, 2015 my finals submitted. I returned home on November 30th. During this time, my novel took second priority to school. I awoke December 1st, and sighed. I was only halfway complete with Flight For Survival. I had only one month to finish it. We were in the midst of the holiday season.
My thoughts were:
I don't know how I will finish my third novel in one month, let alone during Christmas time. I was helping my friend with her book, working on the children's book, I Am Awesome, the ABC's of Being Me, had shopping, kids coming to town, and a mini trip with my husband. I was on reserve and could be called out at a moments notice. Once school picked up again in January, I would be too busy. I experienced a moment of doubt as how I would get it finished for the NW Aviation Conference by February, 2016. Then I looked at the book Fight To Success be the Captain of Your Life, sitting on my desk and...
Instead of giving up...
I gave it my all.
Giving it my all worked!
Flight For Survival is on schedule
for January/February arrival.
Coming Soon...
Kathryn Jacobs is in charge of drone regulation for the FAA, Jackie Jameson is managing flight attendant training, and Darby Bradshaw is flying an A330 for Global Air Lines.
When a Boeing 777 disappears, and a pilot intentionally flies into the mountains, suspicion points to Captain Bill Jacobs, protected by the walls of prison.
Darby is on top of the world, as she has been offered a 2 million dollar contract for a safety management book she spent three years writing: Fight For Safety, Inside the Iron Bubble. Unfortunately, there are people who do not want this book to be released. The sub-culture of Global Air Lines surfaces between the pages in the darkest realm, with fear that the truth of what goes on inside that iron bubble, shall come to light.
When the worst crash in history occurs, the fight becomes one of survival.
The time is now to read
the first two novels in the series:
And get ready for the best of the three novels!
Join me on New Years Day
For the Resolution of 2016!
My Novels are an integral part of the resolution.
Join the Journey!
XOX Karlene
Monday, 28 December 2015
Mental Health In The Air
Airlines To Improve Screening For Mental Health Conditions In Air Crews
Helen Bell, a freelance writer who once worked in the healthcare, field sent me a great article on mental health and the pilot. The question remains, is it possible through screening to identify a pilot's mental state? This often takes years of observation to diagnose someone. Most pilots will smile at the title to "improve" screening. As to date, new hire screening is to identify if the pilot fits the culture of the airline, not to assess their mental health. I have yet to be screened. But the job demands and performance could be indicators, if training professionals knew what to look for. For now, enjoy Hellen's article on a serious issue.
Helen says...
Following the co-pilot induced crash of Germanwings flight A320 into the French Alps earlier this year, concerns have been raised about the way in which airlines and flight schools safeguard and screen the mental health of their charges. Following the terrible crash, which killed everyone on board, it transpired that the co-pilot responsible, Andreas Lubitz, had been undergoing treatment for depression for several months prior to taking this deadly, suicidal step. According to a diary he kept, Lubitz’s state of mind was in extreme turmoil in the weeks leading up to the crash.
Insomnia left him running on as little as three hours sleep a night, and he was on a cocktail of drugs including tranquilizers and antidepressants – not a good combination in the first place for someone responsible for keeping a plane in the air. Although nobody could have predicted the terrible route by which Lubitz would ultimately end his suffering, the evidence that Lubitz was not at that time fit to perform his duties was ample. In the light of the airline’s failure to take Lubitz’s condition seriously enough to do something about it, aviation authorities across the world have begun to review the way in which they deal with the spectre of mental illness in pilots and air staff.
Current Procedures
It is acknowledged that being a pilot can be a very stressful and pressured job. In recognition of this, most airlines carry out psychological evaluations of potential air crews before contracting them to fly. Furthermore, when applying for a pilot’s licence, applicants are required to disclose their medical history, including any history of mental illness. A diagnosis such as PTSD, or a history of self-harm (for example) is likely to rule out the possibility of getting a licence, although conditions such as depression are currently more of a moot point. Once a licence has been obtained, however, the responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the pilots and air crews lies with the airlines which employ them.
Current Procedures
It is acknowledged that being a pilot can be a very stressful and pressured job. In recognition of this, most airlines carry out psychological evaluations of potential air crews before contracting them to fly. Furthermore, when applying for a pilot’s licence, applicants are required to disclose their medical history, including any history of mental illness. A diagnosis such as PTSD, or a history of self-harm (for example) is likely to rule out the possibility of getting a licence, although conditions such as depression are currently more of a moot point. Once a licence has been obtained, however, the responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the pilots and air crews lies with the airlines which employ them.
Most airlines devote considerable resources to scrutinizing and evaluating their pilots’ performance and health. It’s also worth noting that anti-terrorism measures in the USA require those working with anyone involved with planes to report to the authorities any concerns they may have about a pilot’s behavior or state of mind. However, the skewed way in which society views mental health conditions can work against full disclosure on the part of air crews, and full comprehension on the part of airlines. All too often, major stress, anxiety, and depression are not viewed as particularly serious or as a hindrance to someone’s ability to perform their responsibilities. In fact, these things can all cause serious problems in performance, as well as being incredibly debilitating for the person affected.
Will Things Change?
All over the world, the fate of the Germanwings passengers and crew has led to calls for tightened and heightened mental health screening procedures for pilots. The EU has recommended that all new and prospective pilots undergo comprehensive psychological screening. In the US, experts have asked for a review into the ways in which flight schools currently deal with mental health issues in students. Part of the problem is that nobody wants to demonize or attack people suffering from mental health problems – but at the same time it must be acknowledged that a job which involves so much responsibility (and has such potential to end in tragedy) requires a consistently steady and emotionally sound state of mind. Perhaps one way in which to reduce the chances of air crews developing mental health problems is to put measures in place which will reduce stress.
Will Things Change?
All over the world, the fate of the Germanwings passengers and crew has led to calls for tightened and heightened mental health screening procedures for pilots. The EU has recommended that all new and prospective pilots undergo comprehensive psychological screening. In the US, experts have asked for a review into the ways in which flight schools currently deal with mental health issues in students. Part of the problem is that nobody wants to demonize or attack people suffering from mental health problems – but at the same time it must be acknowledged that a job which involves so much responsibility (and has such potential to end in tragedy) requires a consistently steady and emotionally sound state of mind. Perhaps one way in which to reduce the chances of air crews developing mental health problems is to put measures in place which will reduce stress.
Fostering an environment in which a positive mental and emotional state is nurtured could be of enormous help. However, you can never prepare for the vagaries of disease, or of outside influences which also act upon peoples’ mental health. It is therefore important that airlines and flight schools develop ways of spotting mental health problems as they arise, and getting the affected individuals help before their health has a chance to start impacting upon their work. Mental health problems can be hard to spot – but it’s worth making an effort to do so, for the sake of everyone involved.
What do you think the answer is?
Sunday, 27 December 2015
A Round Tuit 290
Happy Monday to all!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you're gearing up for a fabulous New Year too!
I'm making lots of plans, projects and resolutions, which I will share later this week!
For now - it's time to see what crafting, cooking etc everyone has been up to this last week!
Let's party!
_____________________________
Welcome to this week's linky party. A place where you can link up your posts and creations, and be inspired by others.
Tuits are very hard to come by, especially the round ones. For years people have been saying, "I'll do it as soon as I get a round tuit". Well now you can have one of your very own, and all those jobs that have needed doing will finally get done!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you're gearing up for a fabulous New Year too!
I'm making lots of plans, projects and resolutions, which I will share later this week!
For now - it's time to see what crafting, cooking etc everyone has been up to this last week!
Let's party!
_____________________________
Welcome to this week's linky party. A place where you can link up your posts and creations, and be inspired by others.
Tuits are very hard to come by, especially the round ones. For years people have been saying, "I'll do it as soon as I get a round tuit". Well now you can have one of your very own, and all those jobs that have needed doing will finally get done!
Finally, having just been to see the new Star Wars movie - I couldn't resist these
DIY light sabres from Pool Noodles by Life Anchored.
DIY light sabres from Pool Noodles by Life Anchored.
For those featured, feel free to grab a 'featured on' button here.
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Now it's your turn:
Link up your own projects - old or new - no rules - just share your creativity and inspiration!
I'd love if you grabbed the button - then you can have your very own Round Tuit!
And of course we all love visitors and comments so do visit some of the other links!
By linking up here you're giving me permission to use photos from your post in features here on my blog.
I will feature my favourites on this post next week.
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Merry Christmas!
TWAS The Night Before Christmas - Aviation Style
'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.
The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.
When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.
He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.
He called his position, no room for denial,
"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!
With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
"Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'?
While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower."
He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..."
He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.
His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly.
He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump.
I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!"
And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
"Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion"
He sped down the runway, the best of the best,
"Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed thru the night,
"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."
Happy Holidays
and
Merry Christmas
From My Family to Yours!
Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Christmas Eve!
From 1-24th Dec I give to you my blog advent calendar.
Each day you can click on the numbered 'door' to 'open' it and find some Christmas upcycled/recycled goodness!
Enjoy!
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