Skydiving

4 Pages 1015 Words

Everyone always asks me why Skydiving? For those who don't skydive, it's difficult to understand, and harder yet for those of us who do to explain. Skydiving provides me with the relaxation I need to help clear my mind from all of the worries and stresses life brings into my reality. Everyday people are faced with many challenges that affect their lives. Some of these challenges are so small that we really don’t pay any attention to them. And then there are some that could break us, and completely shake up our lives. It’s really how we approach these challenges and our state of mind at the time that determines our ability to continue. Every time I look up at the sky, I smile. I can imagine myself freefalling 14 thousand feet above the ground, losing control of my body and giving into nature's mercy. In the sky there is no stress, no deadlines, and nobody I must answer to. You have nothing else in mind but that moment and your life. All that exists is the vast, blue sky. Let me provide a glimpse into something many have not experienced.
As I’m driving up the long dirt road to the dropzone, I glance up for a brief moment and see the first skydivers of the day blossom into multi-colored rectangles over the field on the side of the landing strip. The tiny skydivers swoop and roll, dive and stall under the canopies as they plummet downward towards the landing field below. As you take it all in, your heart starts to race faster and faster and my anticipation takes over. As I’m walking towards the hanger, anxious to get my day started, I pass by smiling friends as they wave and ask how am I doing. After I get my gear packed I’m ready to go. I walk over to the manifest to give them a jump ticket and have them put me on the next flight. As I wait for my name to be called, I relax with a cigarette in my hand and think about what I want to do on this next skydive; Do I want to do a head-down, or maybe a sit? What kind of ex...