I recently went skydiving, and I want to share with all of you my first experience.

I say FIRST because I DO plan on doing this again.. And again.. And again!

I’ve never considered myself much of a risk taker. I’m actually pretty timid when it comes to certain things, and I tend to think carefully before doing anything that could potentially end badly. But there’s another side of me that loves being spontaneous, pushing the limits every now and then, and experiencing the kind of excitement that makes me scream at the top of my lungs. Anyone who knows how much I love Cedar Point understands exactly what I’m talking about. Give me a good roller coaster with a ridiculous drop, a few twists and turns, and enough speed to make me question my decision for a split second, and I’m a happy woman. I suppose I’ve always enjoyed a good thrill, even if my everyday personality doesn’t necessarily suggest it.

So when I decided to start working on my bucket list, I already knew what I wanted to do first. I wanted to go skydiving. Not take a flying lesson, not ride in a small airplane to admire the scenery, but actually jump out of one thousands of feet above the ground. The idea had been on my mind, and one day I decided to stop thinking about it and book the experience. There wasn’t some elaborate plan or months of preparation involved. I found an opportunity, reserved my seat, and that was that. What made the whole thing even more interesting was that I’d only been on an airplane for a few trips before. This flight would also be the first time I exited an airplane, and I wouldn’t be waiting for it to land before doing so. Even now, I have to laugh at how unusual that sounds.

Yeah, lots of people told me I was “crazy.” Lots of people thought to themselves I was “crazy”… And lots of people could not understand why I would want to basically do something so “crazy.”

 I understood their reactions because voluntarily jumping out of a perfectly good airplane isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of fun. There are people who don’t even enjoy looking out of an airplane window, let alone the thought of leaving the aircraft while it’s still in the air. But I wasn’t particularly interested in convincing anyone that my decision made sense. It was something I wanted to experience, and the fact that other people couldn’t imagine doing it didn’t make me any less excited.

I did have one interesting thought before the jump, though. I wondered what God thought about my decision to do something like this. As a Christian, I believe my life is in His hands, but I also believe He expects us to use wisdom and good judgment. I certainly wasn’t under the impression that being a Christian meant I could do anything dangerous and expect to be protected from every possible consequence. Still, I wondered whether He was looking at me thinking, “Now, why on earth would you want to do that?” I chuckled at the thought, but I also prayed that everything would go well. I was grateful to have the opportunity to experience something so extraordinary, and I hoped to return home safely with a wonderful story to tell.

Just check out the man who went before me sticking his tongue out. So it’s gotta be like that!?!? After him I and my instructor were the first tandem pair jumping out. There was a full plane of us and also an 85 year old celebrating her birthday with my group.

For those wondering how the process goes, or at least how it went for me – here’s the gist of it:

Before the actual jump, there were several things I had to take care of. Booking online was relatively simple, but part of the process involved watching a video and reviewing a waiver that explained the risks associated with skydiving. And when I say risks, I mean they made sure you understood that you could actually die doing this. It wasn’t exactly the kind of material you’d expect to get someone excited about an upcoming adventure. If anything was going to convince me to reconsider, I suppose that would have been it. But strangely enough, it didn’t bother me. I understood that there were risks involved, and I appreciated knowing what I was agreeing to. My heart was already set on going, and I wasn’t about to change my mind because of the paperwork.

When the day finally arrived, I showed up, completed another waiver, filled out the necessary forms, and paid the remaining balance. After that, I was directed toward the hangars, where I would meet the person responsible for making sure I made it safely back to the ground. Since this was a tandem jump, I would be securely attached to an experienced instructor who would handle the technical aspects of the skydive. I remember meeting him and immediately thinking he was awesome. He had this interesting way of speaking that seemed fast and slow at the same time, if that makes any sense. He clearly knew what he was doing, and he went over the instructions I needed to follow. I listened carefully because, as adventurous as I was feeling, I had no intention of becoming the student who forgot everything the instructor said.

After getting fitted into my jumpsuit, there was a little waiting involved, although not nearly as much as I had expected. I’d scheduled a morning appointment, so things moved along fairly quickly. I remember watching the activity around me and realizing that this was actually happening. I was really about to get on an airplane, climb thousands of feet into the sky, and then jump out of it. You would think that realization would have made me nervous, but it didn’t. I wasn’t shaking, second-guessing myself, or searching for an excuse to leave. I was excited, curious, and ready to experience something I’d been looking forward to.

When it was finally time to board the plane, I learned something interesting about how the jump order worked. In my case, the last tandem pair to board would be the first to jump. And wouldn’t you know it, that happened to be me and my instructor. Talk about feeling special! I imagine some people would have considered that the worst possible position to be in, but I didn’t mind at all. There was no long wait while I watched everyone else disappear through the open door. Once we reached the proper altitude, it would be my turn.

I wish I could tell you that I had some dramatic moment of fear when the airplane door opened, but I honestly didn’t. I never had second thoughts, never considered backing out, and never experienced that overwhelming panic people often associate with skydiving. That’s what makes the whole experience so interesting to me. I can be hesitant about things that seem relatively ordinary, yet there I was preparing to jump from approximately 13,000 feet without a single moment of regret. I was trusting a man I’d only met that morning, along with his training and the equipment that would bring us safely back to earth. That’s a tremendous amount of trust to place in another person, but I felt comfortable with him and believed he knew exactly what he was doing.

Then came the moment I’d been waiting for. We jumped. I followed the instructions I’d been given, and thankfully I didn’t forget everything the moment we left the plane. I didn’t hold my breath, scream in terror, or suddenly decide that skydiving had been a terrible idea. I was actually doing it, and the feeling was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. There’s something almost impossible to describe about leaving an airplane and finding yourself surrounded by nothing but open sky. The ground looks so far away, and everything you’re accustomed to seeing from street level suddenly takes on an entirely different appearance. It was thrilling, unbelievable, and absolutely amazing.

One thing I hadn’t expected was how the cold air would affect my breathing. As we fell through the sky, the rush of air caught me off guard, and for a moment I had difficulty catching my breath. It wasn’t something I’d really considered beforehand, despite all the instructions and information I’d received. But I managed to adjust, and before long I was enjoying the experience again. I had imagined what skydiving might feel like, but imagining something and actually experiencing it are two very different things. No description or video could have fully prepared me for the sensation of freefall.

And then the parachute opened. That was when the experience changed from an incredible rush of adrenaline into something I can only describe as peaceful. Suddenly, instead of falling rapidly through the air, we were floating above the earth, and I had the opportunity to really take in everything around me. The view was breathtaking. From that height, the world looked so different from the one I was accustomed to seeing every day. The roads, buildings, trees, and everything below seemed almost miniature. I remember feeling amazed that I was actually up there, enjoying a view that most people never get to experience in quite that way.

What surprised me most was the peace I felt. I had expected excitement because that’s why I wanted to go skydiving in the first place. I love a good thrill, and I knew jumping from an airplane would give me one. What I hadn’t anticipated was how beautiful and calming the experience would become once the parachute opened. There I was, thousands of feet above the ground, and I felt completely at ease. It’s almost funny when I think about it because there are situations in everyday life that can make me anxious or uncomfortable, yet floating high above the earth didn’t seem to bother me at all. I was simply enjoying the moment, grateful that I’d decided to do something so unusual.

Looking back, I think one of the things I appreciate most about that day is discovering that I was capable of surprising myself. I’ve always described myself as a timid person, and in many ways, I still am. But being timid doesn’t mean I can’t be adventurous, and it certainly doesn’t mean I have to avoid every experience that falls outside my usual routine. Sometimes we become so accustomed to describing ourselves a certain way that we begin to believe those descriptions define everything we’re capable of doing. We tell ourselves we’re not brave enough, outgoing enough, or adventurous enough to try something new. Then one day we do something completely unexpected and realize there may be more to us than we thought.

I also learned that other people’s opinions don’t have to determine which experiences we allow ourselves to enjoy. I know some people thought I was crazy for wanting to skydive, and I can’t say I blame them. If jumping out of an airplane sounds absolutely miserable to you, I certainly wouldn’t recommend doing it just because someone else thinks you should. But I also believe we should give ourselves permission to enjoy things that other people may not understand. Not every experience needs to make sense to everyone around us. Sometimes it’s enough that something matters to us personally and that we’ve taken the time to understand what we’re getting ourselves into.

The faith aspect of the experience has stayed with me as well. I placed a great deal of trust in my instructor, and I was grateful for the training, preparation, and safety procedures that made the jump possible. I also felt a sense of peace rooted in my belief that my life ultimately belongs to God. That doesn’t mean I believe He guarantees our safety every time we decide to do something risky. Life simply doesn’t work that way, and faith isn’t a substitute for making responsible decisions. But I do believe we can acknowledge the uncertainty of life without allowing that uncertainty to rob us of every opportunity to enjoy it. For me, that day was an experience of trust, gratitude, and appreciation for the world God created.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve thought more about the things I want to experience while I still have the opportunity. I don’t have any desire to become reckless, and I certainly don’t need every weekend to involve some outrageous adventure. I’m perfectly happy enjoying a quiet day at home, spending time with family, or doing something familiar. But I also don’t want to become so comfortable with my routines that I stop being curious about the world around me. There are places I haven’t visited, activities I haven’t tried, and experiences I haven’t even considered yet. I like knowing that there is still room in my life for a little spontaneity and excitement.

I think we sometimes put things on our bucket lists with the assumption that we’ll eventually get around to them. We tell ourselves we’ll do it next year, when we have more money, when our schedules are less complicated, or when the timing feels better. Sometimes waiting is necessary, and there’s nothing wrong with being practical. But I also know how quickly the years can pass while we’re busy handling everyday responsibilities. I’m glad I didn’t keep postponing this particular experience. I wanted to skydive, I found an opportunity, and I went through with it. Not every decision in life should be made on impulse, but occasionally being spontaneous can lead to a memory that stays with you for years.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. I enjoyed it far too much to say it was something I’d only want to experience once. There’s a part of me that would love to feel that rush again, see the world from that incredible height, and enjoy those peaceful moments floating beneath a parachute. I don’t know when or whether another opportunity will come along, but I certainly wouldn’t turn it down simply because I’ve already checked skydiving off my bucket list. Some experiences are worth repeating, especially when they leave you with such wonderful memories.

When I think back on that day, I remember the excitement of booking the jump, the reactions from people who thought I’d lost my mind, and the instructor who made me feel comfortable trusting him with my life. I remember boarding an airplane for the first time and knowing that I wouldn’t be landing in it. I remember the rush of cold air, the incredible feeling of freefall, and the moment everything slowed down after the parachute opened. Most of all, I remember how happy I was that I’d actually done it. It was one of the most breathtaking, peaceful, and thrilling experiences of my life, and I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything.

I’m thankful God blessed me with the opportunity to experience something so extraordinary and return home safely to tell the story. I still don’t know exactly what He thought about my decision to jump out of an airplane, and I suppose that’s a question I’ll have to leave unanswered. But I do know that the experience reminded me how much beauty and excitement there is in this world, and how wonderful it can be to step outside what we’re accustomed to every once in a while. I may not be much of a risk taker, but I apparently have a pretty adventurous side when the right opportunity comes along. And of all the ways I could have spent a Friday morning, I have to admit that jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet made it one weekend I’ll never forget.

Hope you enjoyed my photos. Would you ever dare skydive? I’d love to know!