A few years ago we were vacationing with my husband’s family in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when we all decided to go zip lining.
Quick note: I am terrified of heights but I had made a goal to face my fears head-on - so I went with the group, determined to overcome my fear of heights.
Our adventure started in a rickety old bus that took us up a mountain road that was barely a road. At the top of the mountain, we were briefed on the safety rules and fitted into our harness. We went to a small area with a practice zip line - it was about ten feet off the ground. I breezed through the practice zip line and thought - this isn’t so bad, I can do this!
Then we walked around the corner.
The first real zip line was from mountain top to mountain top with a 700-foot drop below us.
I froze.
We had all lined up and somehow my husband was first, I was second, and our daughter was third. The rest of the family was behind us.
My daughter had been zip lining before, but only about 50 feet off the ground. She was looking forward to this, but when she saw the drop she got a bit nervous. I knew she really wanted to do this, but I also knew she was scared.
I also knew that if I backed out, she would too.
And she would regret it.
I watched my husband zip across the impossible expanse first and tried to slow my frantically beating heart before it leaped from my chest after him.
My husband whooped and hollered on his way over, enjoying every second of it.
Once he was in the clear, it was my turn.
This was it. Was I going to face my fear and go for it? Or was I going to back out?
I turned to look at my daughter and could see the scared excitement on her face. She was terrified like I was - but she was also excited to do this.
I realized that I wanted to do this as well. I really wanted to feel what it was like to fly through the air. I wanted to go on this adventure.
Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the choice of doing something even though you are afraid.
So I nodded to the helper that I was ready. He strapped me in and double-checked everything. Then he sent me off into the void.
I admit that I closed my eyes that first run. I just held on for dear life as I zipped through the air, praying that I would make it to the other side.
I did.
As the other helper was unhooking me, I couldn’t stop shaking. He helped me down off the short platform where my husband was waiting.
He was looking at me with amazement.
“I can’t believe you just did that!”
I smiled and replied that I couldn’t either.
The two of us turned to watch our daughter zoom through the air toward us. The sheer joy on her face was a sight to see.
Once she joined us, she looked at me and repeated what my husband said - she couldn’t believe I just did that either. Both of them were proud of me.
I was proud of myself.
The rest of the afternoon was spent zip lining six more times, rappelling down cliffs, walking across rickety bridges, and eventually zip lining into the water where we rode tubes down the river.
After riding horses back up the mountain, we ate chips and guacamole and drank tequila.
It was one of the most fun, crazy, terrifying, memorable adventures I have ever had in my life and I’m so glad I took that leap of faith.
I’m so glad I left my comfort zone. I’m glad I could face my fears. I’m glad that I could teach my daughter to do the things she wants to do - even if they frighten her.
Amy Young
Confessions of a GenX Mom
Comments