Signing up to do ziplining was a big step for me. Back in December my family and I traveled to San Diego and had plans to zip line over the zoo. However, as we reached the top of the line, the height and the distance of the line shocked me. Even after watching three groups go and talking to the instructor, I was still not able to overcome my fear of heights. The lesson I learned from this experience was if the practice line brings fear, the real thing will be no joke. I let my fear get the best of me last time, but this time, I decided, this time would be different.
As I proceeded to enter the tram that would take us to the top of the mountain, fear began to sink in. I had mastered the practice course with little fear, but as we increased in altitude fog covered us; not being able to see was the scariest part. As we embarked on our journey to climb the tower leading us to the first real line, I felt panic stricken. I said over and over that there was absolutely no way I could go through with it. As everyone around me tried to calm me down, the encouragement I felt from my new friends was amazing. Though this encouragement did not completely over mask the intense winds and rain, it helped me take the next step [literally. stepped off the platform].
Stepping up to the line I was hooked on and before I knew it, off I went. Yes, of course I screamed a little, but that was me letting go of my fear. After the first real line, I was hooked. There were nine lines total and I conquered each of them though not always on my own. About half of them were individual lines while the other half were partner lines. Having a friend along for the ride with me made me feel much more secure. But even with this security, a rush of adrenaline came with each new line. And with each line it was just another time I could take my fears head on.
Though facing fears is not always an easy task, it is an important one. There are some things I will never do because I have no desire [like bungee jumping] to do. However, if an opportunity presents itself and you feel like you should take it, backing out will only bring regret to replace the fear when it should really be replaced by excitement. The lesson of the day is to face fears and depend on those around you for moral support. Even if you do barely know them, it can truly make all the difference.
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