In Kenya, I conquered my fear of the dark. It was hard and sometimes terrifying but totally freeing and amazing. I can now walk into a dark room and not turn right around and get away from it. I can stand to be in the dark room long enough to find the light switch, if I even need it anymore.
I want to outdo myself by conquering an even greater fear. This fear has kept me from doing many things and living my life to the fullest.
I am afraid of death.
I am not one to go out and do something crazy or too adventurous for the fear of dying. Honestly, I thought about how I could possibly die on this trip and I almost didn’t go. This fear has got to go.
So, how would I rid myself of this fear? Oh, subtly, of course.
By jumping off a platform 525 feet high over a canyon in Nepal. Down below, there were rocks and rushing water. The only thing that would keep me from hitting the rocks and water would be the bungee cord around my ankles.
I jumped. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t panic. When the jump master said Bungee, I put my arms out and launched myself off the platform. Free fall = 2.5 seconds, feels like 10 seconds. And I didn’t just free fall once, I went back up and down 4 other times as well. When it was over, I just hung there by my ankles, looking down at the rocks and rushing water. My feet and ankles hated this and all the blood was rushing to my head. I finally get lowered to the bottom and get unstrapped and realize I just did one of the highest bungee jumps in the world.
I did it!
Now let’s do it again… This time with a rope around my waist.
3… 2… 1… Jump!
I didn’t hesitate, but I was a little more frightened. Free fall = 7 seconds, feels like a minute. When the rope catches me, I swing over the rocks and rushing water for a few minutes before I can get to other rope to pull myself to the ladder so that I may be unstrapped. I did it. I jumped the world’s highest rope swing!
I will never do those again. But not because I am afraid to, just because I didn’t like them too much.
I conquered my fear of dying.
Next up, skydiving!!
Just kidding, dad 🙂
