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You are here: Home / Lifestyle / A Fresh Start Is Like Jumping Out Of An Airplane

A Fresh Start Is Like Jumping Out Of An Airplane

by Tazim Damji

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Starting on a new adventure can be both exciting and scary at the same time—like jumping out of an airplane. I should know, because I’ve done so before.

No one told me that the first time you skydive, you aren’t supposed to do so solo. Apparently the norm is to skydive with an instructor, and then go solo. I had no idea. It wasn’t something that had been on my ‘bucket list’ for a long time, or something that I’d been wanting to do for a long time. Really, how would that be possible—I went skydiving when I was 18. The idea of going skydiving just came up with a few of my friends from work, and it seemed like it could be fun, so I agreed to go ahead with it. I was young, and hadn’t really had any adventures in my life. That adventure was the first of many, both small and large. Sometimes, I feel like I have a boring life—but it only takes a second to look back and think about all the adventurous things that I’ve done. Each time, because of risks involved, it is a little bit exciting and scary.

life without risk

Photo via SWSED by Steve Kodis on Flickr

A leap of faith

Sometimes, after weighing the odds, the best thing to do is just go for it. Having faith that things will work out for the best isn’t easy, though. After all the preparation, weighing pros and cons, the only way to know for sure if something will turn out is to attempt it.

There’s no safety net

Back-up plans may fail. I guess this most easily translates to a community of friends and family. The ‘catch you when you fall’ thing only goes so far. Having the support of those that love you is great, but over-reliance can be detrimental when support fails, and you have to think of other solutions. When you fall, you may fall hard — but, only you can be responsible for you landing on your own two feet.

Paying attention can save you

Risk-taking can be great. Risks can lead you to great things, but they can also be your down-fall. I’m all about taking chances, but I’m also a big-time worrier. I keep myself out of trouble because I think (too much, perhaps) about possible consequences. A few weeks after I went skydiving with my friends, at the same exact skydiving place where we’d gone, a young woman died and another was seriously injured. They, like us, had to go through 8 hours of training/education prior to being allowed to skydive. Apparently, they didn’t actually pay attention during that time, though—so I read in the papers.

A fresh start or a new adventure can be scary—and only so much preparation will be of benefit. I was the last one to jump out of the small airplane, flying over southern Alberta that summer’s day. I could hear the instructor over the radio, in my ear, and knew that my friends had safely landed. I counted to three, let go of the safety bar on the plane, and I was falling. If I hadn’t been paying attention, or gotten panicky when it was time to let go, I might have missed the second or two I had to pull the cord for the parachute. I floated, above the earth for a blissful minute and a half. I let myself relax, enjoy the sight, my adventure, and the feeling that I’d done something that had seemed slightly impossible and scary. Landing on my feet was a challenge, after so much had happened, but I did.

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: adventure, best, goals

About Tazim Damji

Tazim Damji is a content creator, blogger and social media marketing specialist from Vancouver, Canada. She is passionate about photography, vegan food, and travelling. Read more posts by Tazim. Visit her food and adventure blog Celebrate Life's Adventures Connect with Tazim via Twitter or on Facebook . Google+

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shary says

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    You are so brave. My good friend decided to sky dive last year and I was so nervous for her, and also slightly jealous. I don't have the balls… I don't know if I ever will.

  2. Kecia says

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    Kudos to you for your bravery to skydive! I don't think I could ever do it – but I definitely see the correlation between starting new and jumping out of a plane.

  3. Kathleen Garber says

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    Awesome post thanks for sharing. I didn't know you had to go through so much training to sky dive although that makes perfect sense and I'm glad to know they don't just let anyone off the streets do it. You be brave for me!
    My recent post Just Married With Graphics – Sponsor of Winter Blogathon 2013

  4. Amber says

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    I completely agree….a fresh start is scary, but sometimes the best thing for you to get on track and be happy.

  5. Nicole says

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    Great analogy, trying new things in life really is liking jumping from a plane. That said, I can take "jump out of a plane" off any list of things I want to do but am too scared to try because, hey, I tried new things! 🙂 Seriously, though, you are way braver than I am for doing it.
    My recent post See’s Candy Lives Up to Expectations

    • tazimd says

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      Thanks Nicole! I don't know that I would recommend it – I was a lot braver when I was younger!

  6. Lindsey G says

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    I felt like I was right there with you – shew. Glad I wasn't though! Ha. I used to think I wanted to skydive, could do it. I know I couldn't now, but so happy you saw it through!
    My recent post Moreaya’s First Birthday Party

  7. Laura says

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    Wow! I used to want to do that, but I don't know now if I could. Seems more fear comes with age. Congrats to you for doing something you wanted!
    My recent post Movie Night Reviews – The Adventures of Tintin

    • tazimd says

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      I know what you mean, Laura – I don't think I'd do it now!

  8. lena says

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    new things are scary, especially that. Free falling? Maybe not…
    My recent post Wilderness Vacation – Wisconsin Dells, WI

  9. Miriam T. says

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    You're absolutely right that sometimes we need to take risks. Growth only comes when we step out of our comfort zone, step away from the norm, and try something different.

    • tazimd says

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      Yes, exactly! I'm definitely trying a lot of new things this year.

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Being Tazim Blog Vancouver Canada Lifestyle BlogI'm Tazim, a 40-year-old Vancouverite who is passionate about adventure, learning new things, and making connections. Content on Being Tazim ranges from smart ideas for plant-based cooking and baking to ways to enjoy life's experiences, to inspiration and information on attractions and travel destinations near and far. Read the full story here.

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Hey there! I'm Tazim and I'm a lifestyle, food, and travel writer and photographer. I inspire, motivate, and encourage my audience to explore their immediate surroundings and those further afield. I do this by sharing plant-based food recipes, ways to enhance my readers' homes and lives, and local and other attractions/travel destinations I experience. You can find my stories and adventures on my other blog Celebrate Life's Adventures Read more about me. . .

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