It's been a few weeks since I've last posted and for good reason. I spent the last two weeks driving the west coast from Seattle down to Northern California. On one of the very first days, I had an experience which set the tone for the entire trip. I’d just ended a long run and decided to hop into the lake to cool down. Hearing shouts and laughs I turned and noticed several kids bounding off a high diving board in the swim area. The high dive. Immediately, the little kid in me took over and I had the urge to play and jump off as well. Two minutes later, I found myself actually climbing up the ladder before I realized I was 15 feet up. The urge to play ran away.
Although I've gone bungee jumping in a canyon in New Zealand and skydiving in Texas, I am still deeply afraid of heights. Merely standing on the board overlooking the water, my legs started to shake. Looking back, I noticed several kids, none older than 12 years old, waiting for me to jump. Instantly my fear was conquered by peer pressure. If these kids could jump so could I. With a hesitant defiance I jumped off the board, awkwardly flailing my arms and legs. As soon as I splashed into the water, I felt a surge of exhilaration and energy, I wanted to do it again.
Literally jumping out of my comfort zone reminded me how empowering it can be to overcome a fear. This simple jump reinvigorated me to push myself to my edge, to take my other fears head on to access even greater growth.
Come to the edge...
We can't. We will fall…
Come to the edge…
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.
- Guillaume Apollinaire
It’s time to push yourself. To do something that challenges you, that scares you. When you are in your comfort zone you don’t push yourself, you don’t test your edge and you settle. How can you know how far you can possibly go without first going to the edge of your potential?
Why settle when you know you can be so much more, when you know there is so much potential that has yet to be reached?
Do something new this week that scares you. Push yourself and feel the exhilaration and the growth that comes from going to your edge.
What did you do? Please share. It will serve as an inspiration to me and others! I can’t wait to hear!
“True real inspiration and growth only comes from adversity and challenge, from stepping away from what’s comfortable and familiar and stepping out into the unknown.”
- Ben Saunders, Polar Explorer
