Skydiving

Freefalling

I finally checked skydiving off of my 28 by 28! I thought about doing it so many times this summer. Today, I made the appointment and drove out to MiddleofNowhere, IL. I was nervous on the phone, thought I was getting a migraine before I even got to the highway, and had second thoughts about going alone as I got closer to the place. Ironically, once I signed away all of my legal rights, the nerves went away. I sat around for a couple of uneventful hours waiting for my turn. I got a few butterflies right before we jumped but I was fine overall. The freefall was scary and exhilarating. I struggled to catch my breath and still try to take decent pics and make a decent video. When we reached 5,000ft, I actually pulled the cord for the parachute! I was told that only 1 in 4 people actually do it and I was the first person with my instructor to pull it today. The view was amazing, even if it was mostly corn and soybean fields. I could see the campus of NIU in the distance and a faint and cloudy view of the city. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again.

Skydiving was both an exercise in trust and self-confidence/determination. It also symbolized my current position in life. Without any real commitments or responsibilities right now, I feel like I am on top of the world, weighing my options, and contemplating when and how to take the leap. Taking that leap is both exciting and a little frightening. This jump taught me that I can rely on myself and someone else. Before going up, I was a little worried that I would freeze up - I wouldn't get into the proper position, I wouldn't pull the cord, I wouldn't even want to get out of the plane. I did each of these tasks with ease and even better than most, according to Paul the traveling skydiving instructor. I worried that I wouldn't be able to trust this man with my life. But I did. It was a little awkward having a stranger all in my personal space. I was physically closer to this man that I just met than I've been with anyone in a long time, but I felt safe. It was great knowing that I was in control but, if for some reason, I didn't rise to the challenge, someone else was there to make sure that I landed safely. I'm going to try to apply this to my real life - taking the leap and doing the work on my own while still trusting that someone will have my back if I fall.