Jacob's Journeying
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SKYDIVING
Let's talk today about things we have on our bucket list and then one many people have. I think we can all agree that there are significant things a lot of us want to do sometime during our life. It usually boils down to one or two categories... I want to do this... or I want to go there... or perhaps both. It's supposed to be memorable to yourself. Usually something you will do only once in your lifetime. I'll use some of my own unfulfilled goals for example like bungee jumping, shark diving, and climbing a mountain (Mt. Fuji). These are things I hope to do one day but due to their significance and rarity probably will never do again. I might go run another marathon but if I never do that's fine with me. The important thing to me is that I did it once and experienced it.
There is however one thing that was on my bucket list I do intend on doing a few more times and that is skydiving.
Skydiving is one of those extreme experiences most people think of only adrenaline junkies seeking. Truth is a lot of people all over the world, of all ages and backgrounds jump for their first time. For those who don't ever try, they will say no to it out of strong fear or having no desire to do something so extreme. That's okay! I had my fears too but I still went to try it!
I've always had a healthy respect for heights so there was a little fear inside me. (That's human instinct at work designed to keep you alive.) I've never had a problem with flying in a jumbo jet (plenty of flying in the military due to travel) or going up to the top floor of a building. For example, the Sky Tree to look over Tokyo. So no phobia of heights. Check. Never jumped out of a plane before or been one to go on a lot of crazy roller coasters either though.
First, I had the dream to go skydiving (my mind was already made up) then 5 months in advance I started researching. I learned a lot from YouTube about how skydiving feels and the overall danger factor involved. Negligible. Next, I found some places that offered skydiving close to my area. I came across a place and decided it seemed like a good choice from the reviews. Made a window of opportunity for myself and chose a date during that window just in case of inclement weather then paid for my reservation.
"No turning back now."
Two weeks later, I am driving down to the skydiving place full of energy and scenarios going through my head. I got to the place an hour early and decide to sit out in my truck listening to music. There was the sound of a small airplane taking off and I locked my eyes on it. I watched it climb above the clouds. Then I couldn't see it anymore... My distraction was gone and went back to sensing the nervous energy flowing through my body. That was about to me flying up in the sky. Then the excuses and thoughts of 'this isn't a good idea' start to flood in. I fought those thoughts back by thinking of how I came this far and paying to reserve a spot. Did I want to eat my words? No! Finally, despite my heart still pounding I pulled myself together. (Don't run from the pulse of life.) Got out of the truck and started walking toward the door of the hangar all alone. I'm mentally listening to Shia LaBeouf's advice of 'just do it'! Confidence increases...
(Spoilers ahead!)
I opened the door and walked into the hangar. Before me was two people standing at the front desk. They greeted me and I told them my name and that I had reserved a spot. They looked up my reservation on their computer. Next a lady asked me what photography package I wanted as well as handing me a bunch of papers to initial. The papers were legal agreement basically saying that I accepted all risk and neither me nor my family could sue the skydiving place. Still fighting back second doubts. My hand is shaking from all the adrenaline making it hard to even write my initials down on the paper. I return the papers and they take me to a room to watch a brief safety video. I'm the only one sitting in the room watching. Why aren't there more crazy people like me? The visuals included as well as seeing people's after-reactions in the video made me so happy to go but I still couldn't believe I was about to jump.
Okay, movie over and then back to the hangar. I see the other skydivers are there (these are the regulars who jump all the time). They greet me and then I meet the one who I am going to tandem jump with. We shake hands (I can't remember his name). They got a scheduled dive coming up shortly I concluded in my mind. No other first time jumpers are going with me either although there was supposed to be two. They never showed up. Next, I suit up in a blue jumpsuit... then comes the harness that attaches to my instructor. He gives me a short lesson on what to do before and after exiting the plane. Short and simple. Things are progressing so fast (this is a good thing; there is no time to mentally hesitate.) We then proceed to the plane and a slight rain starts to fall. This is amazing!
A calm covers over me. This is it. I'm about to do what I said I would do. We all get into the plane and I'm sitting in front of my instructor on a wood bench. There are four others inside. This is nothing to them they're all laughing, giggling, and talking like normal. Me I'm just quiet taking in the entire experience. Soon the pilot jumps in and turns on the engine.
"You people are crazy but I like it!"
Just another day in the office for them. Before I know it we are taxiing down the runway then suddenly the plane takes a steep climb in altitude (no this isn't your usual plane ride designed for comfort.) I'm sitting there looking out the window and I was surprisingly relaxed. We keep climbing in altitude above the clouds and about 10 minutes or so later I overhear 'we've reached our altitude.' The skydiver closest to the door double checks the gauge and gives the thumbs up to everyone. My instructor hooks me up to his harness and tightens down the straps on mine. Up comes the sliding door in the rear and one by one the others jump. Next thing I know is I'm sliding down the bench to the opening. I gave up fighting my thoughts. My fate had arrived. We we're at the opening looking out okay 'hold onto harness and hold head back.' I'm so relaxed now and just let gravity take over as our weight falls left out the door!
The void of cold empty space surrounds me.
We do a flip and quickly level out. All I hear is the sound of the wind rushing. We are now falling at about 120 miles per hour! I can barely breath it's so fast. I extend my arms out to feel like I'm flying. I see two other people below me falling on their back and I give them thumbs up. Everything's seems blurry it's almost like I can see the wind. It's surreal. Then the parachute deploys and free fall ceases. Wow! What a sight to behold. You're floating down and can look over everything without a window restricting your view. The scariest part is over now you know you literally 'just did it'. Needless to say landing was a breeze. After we touched down I asked my instructor how many jumps that made and he said about '4,030 something'. I was amazed.
In conclusion, would I recommend skydiving to others thinking about going? Yes. Do your research. Pretty much any age can go. There is a weight restriction though.
Would I go again? Yes, I probably will. I think it's an awesome experience that teaches you how to overcome fear. Learning how to let go while up so high up takes a lot of mental override that adds confidence to other facets of life. Soon you'll ask yourself what else am I afraid of that I can overcome? Might even jump single next time too.
Do I have any regrets with jumping? Not at all except I wish I would've gotten the more expensive photography package so I could have had video AND still photos afterward. Hey, I think that's a good reason to go again!
Let's talk today about things we have on our bucket list and then one many people have. I think we can all agree that there are significant things a lot of us want to do sometime during our life. It usually boils down to one or two categories... I want to do this... or I want to go there... or perhaps both. It's supposed to be memorable to yourself. Usually something you will do only once in your lifetime. I'll use some of my own unfulfilled goals for example like bungee jumping, shark diving, and climbing a mountain (Mt. Fuji). These are things I hope to do one day but due to their significance and rarity probably will never do again. I might go run another marathon but if I never do that's fine with me. The important thing to me is that I did it once and experienced it.
There is however one thing that was on my bucket list I do intend on doing a few more times and that is skydiving.
Skydiving is one of those extreme experiences most people think of only adrenaline junkies seeking. Truth is a lot of people all over the world, of all ages and backgrounds jump for their first time. For those who don't ever try, they will say no to it out of strong fear or having no desire to do something so extreme. That's okay! I had my fears too but I still went to try it!
I've always had a healthy respect for heights so there was a little fear inside me. (That's human instinct at work designed to keep you alive.) I've never had a problem with flying in a jumbo jet (plenty of flying in the military due to travel) or going up to the top floor of a building. For example, the Sky Tree to look over Tokyo. So no phobia of heights. Check. Never jumped out of a plane before or been one to go on a lot of crazy roller coasters either though.
First, I had the dream to go skydiving (my mind was already made up) then 5 months in advance I started researching. I learned a lot from YouTube about how skydiving feels and the overall danger factor involved. Negligible. Next, I found some places that offered skydiving close to my area. I came across a place and decided it seemed like a good choice from the reviews. Made a window of opportunity for myself and chose a date during that window just in case of inclement weather then paid for my reservation.
"No turning back now."
Two weeks later, I am driving down to the skydiving place full of energy and scenarios going through my head. I got to the place an hour early and decide to sit out in my truck listening to music. There was the sound of a small airplane taking off and I locked my eyes on it. I watched it climb above the clouds. Then I couldn't see it anymore... My distraction was gone and went back to sensing the nervous energy flowing through my body. That was about to me flying up in the sky. Then the excuses and thoughts of 'this isn't a good idea' start to flood in. I fought those thoughts back by thinking of how I came this far and paying to reserve a spot. Did I want to eat my words? No! Finally, despite my heart still pounding I pulled myself together. (Don't run from the pulse of life.) Got out of the truck and started walking toward the door of the hangar all alone. I'm mentally listening to Shia LaBeouf's advice of 'just do it'! Confidence increases...
(Spoilers ahead!)
I opened the door and walked into the hangar. Before me was two people standing at the front desk. They greeted me and I told them my name and that I had reserved a spot. They looked up my reservation on their computer. Next a lady asked me what photography package I wanted as well as handing me a bunch of papers to initial. The papers were legal agreement basically saying that I accepted all risk and neither me nor my family could sue the skydiving place. Still fighting back second doubts. My hand is shaking from all the adrenaline making it hard to even write my initials down on the paper. I return the papers and they take me to a room to watch a brief safety video. I'm the only one sitting in the room watching. Why aren't there more crazy people like me? The visuals included as well as seeing people's after-reactions in the video made me so happy to go but I still couldn't believe I was about to jump.
Okay, movie over and then back to the hangar. I see the other skydivers are there (these are the regulars who jump all the time). They greet me and then I meet the one who I am going to tandem jump with. We shake hands (I can't remember his name). They got a scheduled dive coming up shortly I concluded in my mind. No other first time jumpers are going with me either although there was supposed to be two. They never showed up. Next, I suit up in a blue jumpsuit... then comes the harness that attaches to my instructor. He gives me a short lesson on what to do before and after exiting the plane. Short and simple. Things are progressing so fast (this is a good thing; there is no time to mentally hesitate.) We then proceed to the plane and a slight rain starts to fall. This is amazing!
A calm covers over me. This is it. I'm about to do what I said I would do. We all get into the plane and I'm sitting in front of my instructor on a wood bench. There are four others inside. This is nothing to them they're all laughing, giggling, and talking like normal. Me I'm just quiet taking in the entire experience. Soon the pilot jumps in and turns on the engine.
"You people are crazy but I like it!"
Just another day in the office for them. Before I know it we are taxiing down the runway then suddenly the plane takes a steep climb in altitude (no this isn't your usual plane ride designed for comfort.) I'm sitting there looking out the window and I was surprisingly relaxed. We keep climbing in altitude above the clouds and about 10 minutes or so later I overhear 'we've reached our altitude.' The skydiver closest to the door double checks the gauge and gives the thumbs up to everyone. My instructor hooks me up to his harness and tightens down the straps on mine. Up comes the sliding door in the rear and one by one the others jump. Next thing I know is I'm sliding down the bench to the opening. I gave up fighting my thoughts. My fate had arrived. We we're at the opening looking out okay 'hold onto harness and hold head back.' I'm so relaxed now and just let gravity take over as our weight falls left out the door!
The void of cold empty space surrounds me.
We do a flip and quickly level out. All I hear is the sound of the wind rushing. We are now falling at about 120 miles per hour! I can barely breath it's so fast. I extend my arms out to feel like I'm flying. I see two other people below me falling on their back and I give them thumbs up. Everything's seems blurry it's almost like I can see the wind. It's surreal. Then the parachute deploys and free fall ceases. Wow! What a sight to behold. You're floating down and can look over everything without a window restricting your view. The scariest part is over now you know you literally 'just did it'. Needless to say landing was a breeze. After we touched down I asked my instructor how many jumps that made and he said about '4,030 something'. I was amazed.
In conclusion, would I recommend skydiving to others thinking about going? Yes. Do your research. Pretty much any age can go. There is a weight restriction though.
Would I go again? Yes, I probably will. I think it's an awesome experience that teaches you how to overcome fear. Learning how to let go while up so high up takes a lot of mental override that adds confidence to other facets of life. Soon you'll ask yourself what else am I afraid of that I can overcome? Might even jump single next time too.
Do I have any regrets with jumping? Not at all except I wish I would've gotten the more expensive photography package so I could have had video AND still photos afterward. Hey, I think that's a good reason to go again!
- PRIMITUS
- BLOG 1 : PATHWAYS
- BEGINNER WORKOUT PROGRAM
- BLOG 2 : LEAVING FOOTPRINTS
- BLOG 3 : THE SPICE OF LIFE
- BLOG 4 : 4 REASONS TO RETHINK FACEBOOK USAGE
- BLOG 5 : MOTIVATION
- BLOG 6 : THE CASE FOR CAFFEINE
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 1
- BLOG 7 : FIGHT CLUB
- BLOG 8 : FREE FALLING
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 2
- BLOG 9 : BRANCHING OUT
- BLOG 10 : BLAST FROM THE PAST
- BLOG 12 : PATHWAYS PART 2
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 3
- BLOG 13 : PATHWAYS PART 3
- BLOG 14 : ARMAMENT
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 4
- PERSPECTIVE REDEFINED
- BLOG 15 : BREAK DOWN
- THE COLONEL SANDERS STORY
- BLOG 16 : WRECK
- BLOG 17 : NIGHT VISIONS
- BLOG 18 : CHANGES AHEAD
- BLOG 19 : PATHWAYS PART 4
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 5
- BLOG 20 : PATHWAYS PART 5
- 3 MILITARY SKILLS TO LEARN
- BLOG 21 : ROAD TRIP PART 1
- QUOTATION COMPILATION
- BLOG 22 : THOUGHTS