“No, not secrets so much as just the Secret. What he knew and had not told anybody, what he knew about his mother that had caused the divorce, what he knew, what he knew—the Secret.” 

Brian is deeply disturbed by the knowledge of his mother’s affair and devastated by his parents’ divorce. He witnesses his mother kissing a strange man and never tells anyone. He assumes this must be the cause of his parent’s divorce. The images of his mother kissing another man haunt him, even after the plane crash.

“All of flying is easy. Just takes learning. Like everything else.”

The pilot’s words foreshadow Brian’s experience in the wilderness. Something that initially seems impossible to Brian becomes easy once he has learned enough about it. Much like flying, surviving becomes easy once he acquires enough knowledge and practice.

“Brian had once had an English teacher, a guy named Perpich, who was always talking about being positive, thinking positive, staying on top of things.” 

After Brian remembers his English teacher and his lessons on positive thinking, he focuses on what he has rather than what he’s lost. He makes sure to keep busy and forward focused. As long as he stays occupied with tasks like making shelter and finding food, he is much better off, as such diligence staves off hopelessness and despair.