"apparently when someone watches a sports event... their brain sends signals to their muscles same as if they were actually playing..." Funny you should mention that at this particular time... That is very similar to what my flight instructor told me to do... "Keep visualizing something in your mind... mentally going through the motions." There is a term for that, but I can't remember it. I already knew the trick... Visual mind thing...
"we are quite passive by nature... would much prefer being flown to flying myself.." Still in that "damsel in distress" mode from earlier today are we? :-) It doesn't matter if you get your licence or not... Whatever YOU want to do... (Unless you really *want* that licence...) That is a completely different thing from letting it all go and taking that FIRST glider ride.