A leap of faith - quite literally!
Back in 2013, while I was in New York for work, I decided to take some time off on a weekend and check off something big from my bucket list: skydiving.
The excitement started right from the takeoff in a small aircraft. Over 10 or so minutes, we climbed to around 9,000 feet.
And then it was time - the instructor went over the instructions one last time and counted down: 3...2...1.
Standing at the edge of the plane, my heart was pounding like crazy. For a split second, I thought, what have I gotten myself into? But the moment I jumped, it was pure adrenaline.
Within seconds, we hit freefall speeds of 120 mph. For 30-45 seconds, I was just flying. Freefalling felt wild, terrifying and absolutely amazing all at once!
When the parachute opened, everything just...slowed down. The view was surreal - so calm and peaceful after all that chaos.
By the time I landed, I couldn’t stop smiling, and feeling grateful. First, ofcourse for surviving (even though this was/ is one of the safest skydiving centers in the world), and second, for experiencing something so incredible.
Would I do it again? Probably not - a sign that I've gotten older (and maybe more risk-averse).
But I'm glad I did it back then. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish, and one I remind myself of whenever I face fear or doubt.
P.S: As you can see, the tandem instructor had just as much fun as I did!