For many of us leaping from great heights started as children when we discovered how thrilling it was to play on stair cases, play grounds, and in trees. It's been said it's not the 'fall' but the 'landing' that hurts. Measures such as safety harnesses and parachutes may be used to experience the thrill of leaping from great heights. The thrill comes from surrendering oneself to the laws of physics and nature; in other words, one makes a conscious decision to relinquish control over their life in good faith that their safety and security will be assured when they touch the ground.
I've met people who have experienced sky diving for themselves and noticed how fearless they were in other aspects of their lives. I wanted to live that way myself and so I too sought the experience of free falling. I remember learning the theoretical knowledge of sky diving in a short class before getting suited up to perform the practical application. I boarded a small propeller air plane with some friends and took off into the sky. I distinctly remember working to feel calm before a noticeable spike in adrenaline surged in me once the jump door was opened. We had reached 15,000 feet in the air and it was time to make our descent back down to earth. I moved into roll position to tumble out of the plane, captured a mental snapshot of the earth from the air, and began the countdown to sky fall. It happened so quickly, I barely had the time to process the experience. For a few brief seconds I recall seeing the plane drift away as I tumbled in the air and felt a sinking feeling in my stomach that told me I was at the mercy of gravity. The falling sensation was short lived before being replaced with thrill and excitement. The earth seemed so far below. I couldn't perceive the ground getting any closer, and for the minute of free fall my senses felt pure exhilaration, chaos, and the turbulence of wind. I was living in the moment, accepting reality, and awaiting my destiny. When the parachute was deployed I experienced time moving much slower; I became calmer, more peaceful and felt gratitude wash over me. This was truly a sweet surrender. My leap of faith was rewarded with the experience of skyfall and the safe return back down to earth. I joined the ranks of the fearless few who have boldly taken the opportunity to conquer their fear and leap from the sky. I feel the gratitude of being present in the moment whilst living life on my own terms. I feel connected to the source of creation responsible for the gravity that we experience every day, a force that can go unnoticed and unappreciated until we challenge it, defy it, find peace with it, embrace it, and love it.