Gravity at its best...

I am not the type of person who seeks adrenaline rush in their body. I like to be safe, and the idea of doing anything where one's life is dependent on the success of safety-line is not appealing to me. “Why on earth would I jump”? I have a fear of heights and depths. The water makes me uncomfortable, and so does the sky.

Deep down we all have the desire to experience our fears and then conquer it. My instinctual fear of doing something crazy though remains, but I also know that if I can find a way to break through it, I would enjoy it. Hopefully, that is, if I am alive at the end!

My first jump, I went tandem, which means I was connected to a professional. You get a longer free fall vs harness jump (45 seconds vs about 15). The experience was exhilarating and challenged me to move out of my comfort zone. It was not my choice but I also did not think much about it. I knew that no matter what, I will not chicken away.

I came to realize that everytime I sign a waiver for anything, there is always a feeling if I am doing something wrong. But then this is not as annoying as figuring out the right answer to the question, “are you scared”? Of course, any normal human will be. It's like saying “how are you doing” to a patient who’s in the ICU,...... of course, they are “not” doing well as they are kept in ICU. But then when it comes to jumping off a plane, I think it is easy, as once you are on the plane; there is no turning back. It's pointless to freak out and very soon your brain also gives up.... you feel nothing.

After taking the leap, there nothing to think about and let gravity do its job. And gravity does its job really well. You fall fast; VERY fast but it doesn’t feel like it. This is your terminal velocity of about 200km/hr. There’s absolutely no controlling it, and the force of the air reshapes your cheeks. The face simply goes away (like, completely). You just embrace the scalding air and the blood that’s blasting through temple...... and learn to float.

Naturally, no words can describe the feeling. Actually, the sensation is completely new. You see the world form a whole new perspective and it’s hard to believe if any of that is real. All you have is a smile and the breathtaking view. That longest (and yet the quickest) moment of life goes by till parachute opens and holds you back incredibly strong through the air. You pull left toggle to spin left, right to spin right, both down hard to stop. Yes, you are flying, floating, soaring across the sky and it’s the most amazing, freeing feeling. Now you breathe normally cause you know you are fine.......and then there’s silence.

These few seconds becomes your freedom, it’s intoxicating and is enough to mess with your mind.

((Z))