This week more than others, I have become acutely aware of the fact that I’m completely addicted to skydiving. Not only does it consume my conscious thought, all day every day, but my subconscious and even my unconscious, are constantly reliving experiences in the sky.
There’s no doubt that the adrenaline rush is highly addictive – this is something you’d know even if you’d never jumped from an airplane. But for me, there are so many elements of the sport that have me dreaming about my next jump.
As I’ve mentioned before, the camaraderie of the drop zone is a huge draw for me. This is by far the number one reason I’m so loyal to Cleveland Parachute. We’ve got a great group of solo jumpers now, so the weekends are consumed with story swapping and learning lessons from one another. And I’m convinced that our coaches and jumpmasters are the best around.
Jumping just wouldn’t be the same without this guy!
Or these guys!
Of course, we can’t forget about the challenge that’s involved with skydiving. Each and every time I dive head first from that airplane and save my life 5,000 feet above the Earth I learn something new about myself and my abilities.
Skydiving has pushed me to become a better person. I challenge myself every day knowing that, come the weekend, I will face even greater challenges. When I approach a problem now, I just think to myself, “I jump out of airplanes. I can handle this!”
All these elements combine to make for one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Hard as I try to explain it, the feeling of taking that 10,000 foot leap is nearly impossible to describe other than pure, raw, adrenaline – and in my case, addiction.
This is what passion feels like.
Are you other skydivers just as addicted? What else are you passionate about?
Blue Skies!
Ashley
Wow. Great post. Your perspective on skydiving and how it helps you face other challenges calls to mind this video — ahamoment.com/pg/moments/view/221 — it’s one woman’s “aha moment” experienced around skydiving. I know you’ll really enjoy it. Give it a look when you get a chance. The site, by the way, was created by Mutual of Omaha to highlight good works, inspirational stories, and “aha moments” of all kinds. I hope you find it interesting.
Thanks,
jack@ahamoment.com
I know what you mean about how being a skydiver makes a person stronger in other things. There have been a lot of times in life when I’ve said the same thing: “I’ve jumped out of planes. This is nothing.”
I jumped at Cleveland once in 1997 I think it was. Nice bunch of people. My vivid memory of that place was two stand up landings in the peas, a noteworthy accomplishment for me because I wasn’t the best canopy pilot at the time.
Glad you’re enjoying the sport so much. It has a lot to give, as do fellow jumpers.
Blue skies,
Rachel
Rachel – thanks for the note! It’s definitely a sport that makes you learn a lot about yourself. CPC is great! And the people are what has me coming back all the time.
I hear you on not being the best canopy pilot. That’s where I struggle – and where I find that I push myself the most.
Blue Skies!
I couldn’t agree with you more on every single point you made. I spend my days at work drawing, doodling, writing, and thinking about skydiving. I have 18 jumps in and I always can’t wait for the next jump! I love this blog because my friends don’t jump and I need to talk skydiving more than I do… You can only talk about how amazing it is to someone who is not a skydiver for so long. Blue skies! Maybe I’ll run into you in Tecumseh one of these days.
mike – I’m also on 18 jumps! Too bad you’re not going to be at the DZ this weekend, we could talk for hours I’m sure!
But I grew up in Michigan and my family is still in Lansing so I’m sure I’ll be heading up again this season.
What’s the name of your company?
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umm… I am not
The connection between addiction, obsession, and passion is interesting. All three are similar. I am one that think a lot of what we do is connected to our emotions and mental states. That the mind effects the physical so much.