My heart was racing. The wind was blowing in my face and the goggles that were protecting my eyes from debris were pressed against my skin. The air was cool and felt somewhat moist. As I was in mid-air free-falling the only thing I can think about was that my body was rapidly descending and nothing else was on my mind. I jumped out of the plane when it reached 10,000 feet in the air and in seconds I reached 4,000 feet at which point my parachute opened and a sigh of relief swept over me. Very quickly I recounted the experiences that molded me into that person that jumped out of a perfectly good plane. I thought of my kids and the example I would like to set for them with taking such a chance: live right now, this very moment, with all your might and even if the task at hand seems crazy and impossible donāt allow fear to stop you.
I was gliding down to earth and staring at the horizon, and I was in awe of how beautiful the horizon looked from that angle. The rays of sunshine were beaming down and from that height you can see the way our earth curves. Yes, the world is definitely not flat. It felt so peaceful coming down to the ground through the clouds and realizing that I am part of this amazing world and that we, wonderful beings that we are, are a small part of this universe. Surely we are significant but just a piece of this massive and amazing planet.
Certainly life experiences provide new lenses to look at life through. Around the time of my sky diving experience I was extremely ready to take massive leaps in my life and break out of the pattern and habits that were not working for me anymore. Change was undoubtedly needed and was already occurring whether I wanted to face it or not. For me free-falling created some momentum, and landing safely on earth was just the beginning of awesome new chapters.
As I continue to challenge myself and quench my insatiable thirst for more newness in my life I realize some key factors have made this journey amazing:
ONE: Surround yourself with people who share similar interests, aspirations, goals and the likes. Try Meetup.com to find clubs and interact with others. If you canāt find a group of people then maybe you need to create that group. Be sure to brainstorm those goals you have and be sure to share it with someone. You may inspire someone or be inspired by someone to attain the goal. My sky diving experience was in my back thoughts and my aunt shared her desire to take that leap. As a result we took the dive together.
TWO: Share your thoughts. Writing a Facebook update or tweeting away your inner dialogue is ok, but the best form of sharing is when you speak aloud!!!! I donāt know about you but when I speak to someone on topics, ideas, thoughts and even problems I seem to find better ways of transforming those ideas, resolving problems, and even soothing my soul. Of course itās not always perfect, but in the end sharing with others you feel inclined to share with is, in my opinion, essential in attaining goals and enjoying the journey.
THREE: Choose your words wisely. Words are very powerful and your tongue can be like a double edged sword. Use words that create that mindset that will pave the way to a more positive mental state. This can be tricky at times especially if you are use to using certain phrases that are disempowering, but becoming more conscious on how certain words or phrases impact your mental and even physical state can be the start of meaningful verbal habits.
FOUR: Create the environment or place yourself in the environment that provides the space to attain that life you want. Be in a space that FEELS RIGHT!! Your space should make you feel great, and it should be a place that gives you room to use those muscles in your face to smile!!!! No need to hire an interior designer or complain about minimal square footage. I believe the simpler the better. I think itās very important to declutter. Keep the things you REALLY NEED. Not the stuff you think you may need later. If itās music that lights up your world be sure to include a good sound system or playlist on your phone. If itās scents that gives you those good feelings be sure your home smells in the way that makes you feel just the way you want to feel. If itās being outdoors be sure that if you canāt have the outdoors you find a way to bring the outdoors in. Have a planter or adorn your space with flowers. I use all these approaches in my environments (at home and at work).
FIVE: Go with your first thought. That thought you had right before your brain started creating excuses or building up walls. Over the years Iāve become braver at following that first feeling. I usually regret when I donāt follow my first thought. If I follow it and my expectations are not met I will accept the outcome a lot easier than if I did not follow my instincts, and I realize that I conserve energy that can be exerted teetering between my instinctual feeling and mental barricades. Iām still working on mastering this art.
The road from that drop-zone field to where I am now has been paved with great experiences and opportunities that were meshed with all levels of emotions. From juggling being a single mom, changing careers, attending seminars (#UPWOrlando2012), being an active ToastMaster member, selling my home, changing environments, being open to new ventures and meeting and surrounding myself with great people and so many more experiences that I am very grateful for, it has been a bumpy road well worth the risks taken and the ups and downs experienced. It feels like Iāve been free-falling every year since that year in different ways. While Iām still breathing, kicking and writing I will continue to take leaps and embrace change.
#gallery-0-4 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-4 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Taking Leaps: How I Am Enjoying theĀ Journey My heart was racing. The wind was blowing in my face and the goggles that were protecting my eyes from debris were pressed against my skin.
