I am, what some would say - competetive. I can't stand it when someone defeats me or challenges me to do something and I don't follow through. So when I was standing before the Bloukrans Bridge in the Garden Route Region of South Africa and my friends dared me to jump- I allowed my competitve side to take over. Sure, I was afraid of heights, but what better way to face your fear than to jump from the highest commercial bungee in the world!?! 216 meters - equated to 648 feet of free falling.
Fear reared it's miserable head as my friends told me they didn't think I could do it and I started to question it myself as I walked along the open air catwalk. The specially designed catwalk so graciously allowed me to watch the earth steadily drop further and further beneath my feet. A few panic attacks later, I made it to the center of the bridge. Now I had to watch all of the other dare devils jump from the bridge because I was one of the last in our group to jump (not by choice). All of the waiting allowed me to question my sanity on a number of occasions and make some requests to be returned to solid ground. Thank goodness for the adrenaline junkie staff, because there was no exiting the bridge alone- you walk the line together.
It was finally my turn and when I looked over the edge of the Bloukrans Bridge, my head started to spin (I think I may have shed a few tears too). I had my feet tied together in the bungee strap, so there was not running out with your eyes closed. It was standing on the edge, eyes wide open and just hopping forward....or a gentle push as I needed. After the initial feeling of mortality subsided, the experience was exhilerating.
Thank goodness I'm competitive or I may have missed the opportunity of a lifetime! When else would I be in South Africa standing before the Bloukrans Bridge again?
That was my closest experience to flying (without a plane around me). If I had never bungee jumped that day in 2003, I would probably still be scared of heights. I would remain on the ground and not experience one of my new passions- rock climbing! I am grateful that God placed that fear in me, because without my fear, I would have never figured out how to overcome it.
Life is full of fears and challenges, but we have been given the tools we need to overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. If I wasn't so competitve, I would be missing out on so much that I love! Don't let fear control you, grab it by the horns and jump!!!!!
Blessings,
Michaela
He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight. ~Orison Swett Marden
I read this when you originally posted it and I just read it again for the second time. I think you're a little bit crazy....I don't know if I would be able to do that. I love adrenaline filled adventures...I'll drop some cliffs on skis and even skydive, but there is something about bungee jumping that freaks me out. Remember cliff diving? That was hard enough. Anyway, crazy story.
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