I JUMPED

So one day I was in Fiji filling out the liability disclaimers for a week’s course and saw the words ‘climb a 60 ft pole’.

Pen paused, I looked across the table at Tom. He caught my ‘WTF… how did I not know about this…’ look. Then I breathed out, smiled, laughed, and signed.

I knew it would be safe, deep down, and my only obstacle was my own mind running scenarios of failure.

Failure to show up, to start, to keep climbing. Would I be strong enough to keep moving? What if I get ‘planted’ like one of the other ladies has, on my butt at the top. How embarrassed would I be?

Instead, I focused on knowing that I can.

I got a good theme song in my head. ‘I’m not afraid’ by M&M seemed a good fit. I put my focus on powering up the pole, one hand and one step at a time.

At the top I placed my hands on the round head of the pole, thinking ‘how do I coordinate my moves to stand on top?’

Within a tense minute I somehow got to be standing on top of the pole. I stopped there, to enjoy the experience, the view, the happiness. I waved down to Tom, before I threw myself off and out to a trapeze swing. Then within minutes I was down to the ground, to laugh and hug Tom and my mates.

Climbing a pole and leaping to a trapeze, I can honestly say were never ever on my ‘bucket-list’, especially Fiji-style where there was no safety net below.

If I’d tried to be prepared for every obstacle, I’d have been bound up in fear. Excuses were plentiful if I was not even going to start.

I jumped.

I’ve taken many more leaps of faith and they’ve all not hurt me.

I’ve learnt and I’ve grown.

That’s pretty much what life’s about isn’t it – growth and learning and great theme songs, and friends, laughter and warm hugs?