Some rights reserved by ChrisL_AK
The other day I was thinking about all
the things on my list that I have done and I have not written about
yet. What grabbed my attention was one extraordinary activity that I
do not think was on my original list.
I'm talking about skydiving. Yeah, me.
The one that cries in airplanes (yes I know I cry a lot) gasping for
air a couple of miles mid-air strapped to a guy met 10 minutes
earlier. If you want to be more precise, imagine that said guy looks
and acts as if under the influence of methamphetamines. Yey!
It all started last year when I ran out
of ideas of interesting gifts for my partner in crime. He is one of
those guys who enjoys riding down-hill on a mountain with a bike and
no brakes, so I thought this would be the kind of activity for his
to-do before 30.
I got my two tickets, because I'm one
of those people who just loves to tag along. That made me think, how
many of the amazing experiences we undertake in our lives are the
result of tagging along?
Way before scuba diving, way before I
took any successful swimming lessons, way before getting rid of
irrational fears and anxiety I decided to tag along on a white water
rafting trip because this special man wanted to do it so much. Crazy,
I know. I even jumped off a rock into a river and earned me a trip to
the emergency room yet it remains one of the funnest memories I have.
I have also discovered a new country, a
new culture, another way of living and wonderful people when I
tagged along to my wonderful friends on a family trip to Honduras. I
say I tagged along because basically I invited myself and I still
cannot think of a better way to learn about friendship, family,
religion and tradition.
I have also joined others in longer
term projects, amazing friends I have seen complete their university
degrees despite the curve balls life has thrown at them. We have chatted
about mid-terms, freaked out about dead-lines, part-time jobs,
lamented our C- and congratulated each other on those elusive A+ and
on those amazing convocation days. Every time I have attended one of
those, I felt so much pride for their accomplishments and so much
gratitude to have been able to follow them trough this path.
In other occasions, I have grown along
friends and family navigating together the troubled waters of our
personal lives. Many tears, many deaths, many joys, several births
and even re-births. In many of these events or chapters it was them
that decided to join me and my mini-meltdowns to see
me mature and grow into the respectable human being I have become.
How is that for a roller-coaster ride?
These adventures, just like letting
myself be pushed out of an airplane to free fall in the countryside,
are the memorable tiles that decorate the walls of my soul. At the
risk of sounding even more cheesy, there is nothing like walking
along others in their own adventures, to discover a world of joys
that you would never have discovered on your own.
This comment is all over the place, but whatevs! First, this makes me excited for our graduation ceremony! It's been a long journey, but we did it - or...well, I'm almost there. Last week - si se puede!!
ReplyDeleteSo honoured to have joined you/have you joined me on a few adventures. Looking forward to many more - (seriously let's turn our dream of meeting somewhere else in the world to a GOAL - let's set objectives!).
It was a treat having you in Honduras - and I hope it just made us better friends! Haha. Getting to know my bratty side a little bit better.
This post reminded me of our paintball adventure - what were we thinking joining a team of experienced shooters/soldiers!? Haha. It was insane.
Love this: memorable tiles that decorate the walls of my soul! That is NOT a cliché image. Original + beautiful! (unrelated: I love tiles on walls - spanish/mediterranean/colonial latino decor) This is such an uplifting and colourful post that made me just a bit nostalgic but mostly excited about the future!!
I can't wait for the next two weeks to be over! xo.