Adventure at 10,000 Feet
What is the last thing I got excited about?
Wow, we’re not talking about gratitude or feeling blessed. Not just happy or content. No… I mean EXCITED!!!
As an adult, that feeling only comes around occasionally for me. I used to get excited before trips, when we adopted our children, and when starting new jobs. But excitement is a rare emotion these days.
I most recently felt it was for my son’s 20th birthday party. But it wasn’t about the party itself—it was about the gift I was giving him…and myself. We were going skydiving!
I’d done this once before, giving the same “gift” to my husband for his 40th birthday, 16 years ago. We captured that experience with photos and video. My boys were 4 and 5 at the time, and my daughter was just a baby.
Afterward, the boys would lie on their bellies on the swings, twist themselves up, and then unwind, arms stretched wide as they yelled, “We’re skydiving!” But if you asked them back then if they’d actually go skydiving, both Luka and Kadon would respond with a hearty, “No way!
Fast forward 16 years, and Kadon, turning 20, decided that jumping out of a plane was exactly how he wanted to spend his birthday. Kadon, his cousin Nathan, and I were the only ones jumping this time. (The rest of the family had either already jumped before or, like Judy, had backed out at the last minute—check her blog to find out why!)
The last time I went, I was excited to see Craig’s reaction when he realized his surprise birthday gift. (Spoiler: He loved it!) This time, I was excited for the experience itself. I knew what to expect and wanted to take it all in even more deeply this time.
As the day approached, there was a happy anticipation in the air. I couldn’t wait to share this adventure with my son and nephew.
On the big day, we all traveled to the venue together. Everyone was buzzing with excitement. No one was nervous, not even a little bit. I even brought pictures from our first skydiving adventure to show the staff, in case they forgot what pros we were.
Now, let’s be real. Skydiving is one of those experiences that, in theory, should make you question your life choices as you hang out of an airplane thousands of feet in the air. But instead, there’s a sense of calm that washes over you. (That’s probably the adrenaline.) As you fall, you stop thinking about all the worries and to-dos. You’re simply in the moment, savoring the rush of the wind, the vastness of the sky, and the ground coming up way faster than you’d like.
It’s a lot like life, right? We can spend all day planning, overthinking, or worrying about the “what ifs,” but sometimes, you have to take the leap and trust the parachute will open (preferably with a trained professional strapped to your back).
Ultimately, it’s not just about the adrenaline rush—it’s about the exhilaration of being fully present. And maybe a little about the bragging rights too.
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