Making a major life-changing decision is kind of like being poised at the edge of a cliff before doing a canyon swing. For the last few days I’ve been feeling some of the same things I felt 3 years ago at E.A.T. Danao, Bohol when I took The Plunge (a 200 meter high swing across a 300 meter wide canyon, with a 45 meter free fall before being launched on a pendulum).
You make up your mind to do it. You think of the fun and adventure, and the excitement builds; you can’t stop talking about how awesome it’s going to be. You make your plans to go, you weigh the risks, and you think everything is going to be just great.
The day of the jump arrives and you start to feel nervous flutters in the pit of your stomach. Your palms start sweating and you can’t help but imagine the worst case scenarios. And still, you tell yourself you’re just being silly, that everything will be ok, that all your fears are unfounded.
But then, at last, the moment arrives. You reach the precipice and somehow the task seems daunting, terrifying, and downright insane.
You panic.
You start thinking…
Maybe I should back out.
I want to back out.
This is insane, I don’t want to do this.
I shouldn’t do this.
But then the people around you start getting you ready to take the leap. They put safety harnesses on you, give you good advice and take precautionary measures, And for some reason you allow yourself to be led toward the very edge. They start lowering you very, very slowly. And still, until the very end you are still given the choice to not do it.
A million thoughts race through your head.
I can’t do this.
Is it too late to stop all this?
Yes it is, it’s too late.
Well, I’m here, and I’ve decided.
This is crazy, but I’m doing it.
You start shouting.
I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M DOING THIS!
And suddenly the guys are yelling, “Bombs away!” and there’s nothing you can do because that sudden jerk means your body is no longer supported by anything. The rush of the drop is both exhilarating and awful and for one brief, maddening moment you have relinquished all control…and just let yourself fall toward the rocky ground, not knowing whether your own momentum will carry you upward to the arc’s apex, or send you crashing downward to doom.
