As I began to walk across the oily, old railroad ties of the run down train bridge, my nerves slowly began to build within me. No railings, nothing to hold onto, I tried not to overthink my steps. Stepping from one railroad tie to the next with a small gap in between each tie, I could see straight down into the water below. I only had to make it to the other side of the bridge and I knew everything would be okay. Halfway across the bridge I started to become more confidant and comfortable with each step. It became fun and easy and by the end I felt like I could go back and run across the old worn out bridge. So I did exactly that, cautiously but so playfully I began to walk again over the bridge but this time my pace picked up with every step. …show more content…
Once I felt completely comfortable I sat down next to my friend, allowing my feet to hang over the bridges edge, thirty feet above the slow moving river. It was a peaceful feeling that I began to feel. It was a beautiful sunny, hot and humid summer day. I could hear the rushing water, the slight breeze that blew across my face and the sound of my friends laughter. At this point I had no fear of falling off or jumping off into the water, that is until it came time to actually physically allowing myself to let my body free fall over the edge into the unknown waters below my feet. I walked to the side of the bridge in which it was safe to jump. It wasn’t until I looked down into the water, knowing I had to jump, that the fear had returned. I have never felt this fear before. It felt as if my stomach had dropped down to my feet. I felt frozen like I was some sort of robot that had no control over itself. My head spun with so many thoughts. I began to overthink the simplest of things. A simple jump became the most terrifying thing. I had never done anything like this before and I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to …show more content…
I felt like I could throw up as i looked down into the water, accept now I felt like I was standing on top of the empire state building looking down at the tiny ants that were people. Faintly in the background of all my thoughts I could hear my friends taunting me and telling me to jump. I kept telling myself to do it, just jump, but my feet felt as if they were glued down. Just as I was about to jump, my friend ran passed me and jumped, brushing me ever so slightly but enough to knock me off balance. I struggled to regain my balance. Flapping my arms everywhere and trying to stand up straight. After I became stable again, somewhere within me came confidence. I closed my eyes and told myself once more to allow myself to jump. I opened my eyes and I was falling straight down. As I fell the fear was still there and my stomach got the weird rollercoaster feeling in it. I could feel the air rush up against my body and I felt lighter than normal. The moments in between jumping from that scary, terrifying bridge until I hit the water seemed to last longer than it really was. Finally my feet broke the surface of the
Suddenly, I was dropped into a void like area, which I couldn’t see a single thing. I thought the roller coaster stopped, but the wind around me and the rustling sounds told me we were moving. After 12 seconds, we entered direct sunlight, and I had to adjust my eyes to the brightness. I looked back, and behind me, my dad looked have awe struck, and half just plainly shocked. My sister said something, but I didn’t listen, I was too focused on the top of the rails and how long it would take.
I was one of the first people to jump into my inflatable duckie, but I was one of the last to get on the river. Once I launched into the river I looked all around me to see the shores covered in pointy trees that were trying to impale anyone who dared go near them. Out of nowhere I hit a rock under the waves, but it was too late and I lost all control of my boat and fell face first into the river. After hitting the water I realized really how cold and dark the water was I started to try to swim to the surface, but it felt like I had cinder blocks attached to my feet weighing me down. SPLASH, I got to the surface in time to grab my slippery oar and jumped onto my boat. I was shaking from the cold water, and had a taste of salty muggy water in my mouth, which I was desperately trying to get out. I quickly paddled in my boat to get back to the group so I wouldn’t be left behind. While paddling I was looking all around at the massive evergreen trees standing on the shore as if they were columns of a old building, the sky as a large blue ocean, and the birds chirping as if they were fans in the stadium at a football game. Breaking the tranquility of the moment was one of the people in the group with me yelping as they fell off their boat down a cold two foot drop in the
The water still surged in between my legs as I stood completely soaked to the bone. I realized just how fast the water was moving. The signs that they had posted everywhere about the fast moving water were something I should have paid more attention to. As I got to the edge where I could climb out, there was my mother with the camera taking pictures of my own stupidity. That was the defining moment for Montana; those few seconds of adrenaline filled terror. That slight mountain breeze now was bone chilling. Luckily, the truck wasn’t parked too far away and I had a change of clothes available. This little joy ride had lasted for only a couple of seconds. I swear to this day that someone higher decided to smite me that day but in a hurry changed their mind. Probably was a good thing I hadn't been wearing my glasses or I would have lost them for sure. I came close to the edge of death that day, and this would only be the second of several close encounters with death.I almost lost the game that day. Made me realize how special the gift of life really is. This does not stop me from bragging about my encounters however. Never have I been in a severe life threatening situation, so I can not say that I have been to the edge but I feel like I have been as close as one could
As I fell, my stomach lurched in a thrilling, heart pounding way. My brain was screaming, demanding that I grab onto something, anything to slow my fall. My body, however, knew exactly what to do.
My sweat soaked shirt was clinging to my throbbing sunburn, and the salty droplets scalded my tender skin. “I need this water,” I reminded myself when my head started to fill with terrifying thoughts of me passing out on this ledge. I had never been so relieved to see this glistening, blissful water. As inviting as the water looked, the heat wasn't the only thing making my head spin anymore. Not only was the drop a horrifying thought, but I could see the rocks through the surface of the water and couldn't push aside the repeating notion of my body bouncing off them when I hit the bottom. I needed to make the decision to jump, and fast. Standing at the top of the cliff, it was as if I could reach out and poke the searing sun. Sweat dripped from my forehead, down my nose, and on its way to my dry, cracked lips which I licked to find a salty droplet. My shirt, soaked with perspiration, was now on the ground as I debated my
It was a hot, humid, but not horrible summer day. My friend had invited me to go somewhere I’d never been before. Six-Flags. I had always heard about how fun it was to go there and how riding a rollercoaster is the best, but I had feared riding one. Due to my fear of heights, I wasn’t fond of the idea of riding high into the sky and the dropping straight down.
Immediately, I angled my position and went for a dead sprint toward the water. I jumped off the cliff. I never felt anything like it; the trajectory had me flying through the air for longer than I expected. A surge of adrenaline pulsed through my body, bringing a new sense of life to me. The scorching heat went away as gravity pulled my body toward the water, bringing me a pleasant breeze through my fall. Then, I finally hit the water. I didn’t stick a solid landing, as I went head first into the water. I panicked and opened my eyes under the murky water, only to see nothing but dirt and sediments float around me. I kept sinking and saw a monstrous fish swim right in front of my face. At that very moment, my body went into overdrive, and I managed to project myself back up to the surface.
I steeled myself for the drop and jumped out. The 35 foot dive was gone in half a second and I was back in the water. This time I knew I could make it. I must scale the rapids. I knew that I could.
I could not even scream as it over powered me. Darkness surrounded me, but I was not yet unconscious. The weight lifted off me as the various pieces of depree floated about in the wild whirl. I seized my chance at freedom and started swimming. I was not sure if I was swimming up or down.
I feel water hitting my arms, and I begin to realize that I am crying profusely. A thought crosses into my mind telling me to jump. I am faced with the decision to follow my captivator into the unknown or take the jump to immediate death. With tears rushing down my rosy cheeks I jump. For the first time my body responds to my wishes and I am falling.
Forgetting the weariness of my now tingling legs, I dove into the water. The feeling of completion raced through me, replacing my feeling of frustration from just seconds before, as I dug farther into the sand. After being under the water only a few seconds, my lungs felt like exploding in my beating chest as I resurfaced. I quickly gulped in some fresh, cool, seaside air as I looked around for my dad. That’s when I saw trouble.
I kept walking until I saw a stream, gently flowing downhill. My knees suddenly felt weak and I dropped the canoe and fell to the ground. I splashed
...e became more and more overcome with suspense and anticipation. Before we plunged to the bottom, we noticed a kayak broken in two pieces. It had been caused by a collision with a boulder, at the bottom of the fall. We were scared to death, because we thought we would hit it and flip over. However, with the help of our fast-thinking and skillful guide, we were able to make it down the fall safely. All the action was over, so we let out a sigh of relief and allowed our nerves to relax.
I will never forget the first time I went snorkeling, it was something I had been afraid to do up until the moment I touched the water. Beforehand all I could think about was what if I got attacked by a shark? I was too young to die and I felt like I was tempting fate. Then once I made the plunge into the water everything washed away, as if the waves carried the fear with them as they folded over me. I remember that day so clearly, rocking back and forth, up and down, I sat on a small glass bottom boat. The enormous ocean waves making me nauseas as I put my snorkel gear on. I hurried as fast as I could, knowing my nausea would go away as soon as I entered the water. This wasn’t the first time I have gotten sea sick, but it only shows up when the boat is sitting still. As soon as I got my equipment on I jumped into the water, fins first. I felt the sensation of goose bumps shivering up my whole body, tiny bubbles rolling over my body from breaking the surface, they ran from my toes upwards to break free at the ocean’s surface. Once the bubbles cleared, I looked around to see a new blue world I have never experienced before. I heard the sound of the ocean, mumbled by the sound of my deep breathing and the tanks of the more experienced scuba divers below me. It’s a very relaxing and peaceful sound, and if I had not been in such a new and unusual place I could have floated with my eyes closed for hours.
I got up and picked up my bike. My mirror was broken, my clutch handle was half there and my kickstand had snapped. I was too far from home to walk back, so I took a deep breath got back on the bike and rode it home. I was shaking as I started out, but as I made it around the first bend and then the second, a sense of elation came over me. I had gotten back on, I was not hurt, and somehow my fear of falling or crashing was muted. I had fallen and I was okay! In that moment, I knew I would overcome my fear and would once again enjoy an activity I had denied myself for so many years. I was not riding fast or even near the speed limit, but I was okay. The wind in my face as tears streamed down it, not from fear but from joy. I knew in that moment I did have the ability to overcome a fear I had carried for over 25 years. The journey would take time and a few gut wrenching moments, but I would be