Friday’s guest post comes from a new blogger friend, Grace Boyle. Grace is a 20-something adventurista. She lives in Boulder, Colorado and is the Publisher Services Manager for Lijit. She loves to travel, the culinary arts, laughter and taking risks. You can find her thoughts on career and life inspirations on her blog: Small Hands, Big Ideas.
I studied abroad my Junior year of college in Florence, Italy. Top five experiences in my life, without a doubt. During my time abroad, besides immersing myself in the Italian culture I knew I wanted to take advantage of the European countries that I lived amongst by traveling frequently.
Traveling, living out of a suitcase (backpacking) and exploring other cultures have been some of the happiest moments in my life. I thrive off of it.
Two weeks after living in Florence, I had already planned a trip to Interlaken, Switzerland. It was only an overnight train ride away. Without hesitation, my roommates (we had never met before) and I hopped on the sleeper train.
I woke up to sunshine streaming through the train window. I hazily opened my eyes to white looming Alps. Immediately I roused and felt giddy.
We found our hostel but weren’t able to check in for at least four hours since we were so early. The hostel dog, (his name was Spliff) hung out with us as we deliriously pretended to play chess or read three-year-old magazines at the old hostel, at the base of the Alps.
Suddenly, four strapping young Australian men approached us (four girls).
“Heya girls. Want to come diving off a cliff in the Alps with us?” Their charming looks and accent were endearing.
My eyes opened a little wider and I stifled a laugh. Then I remembered my European mentality and vision. I wanted to say “no” to very few things; even if it meant, jumping off a cliff with four Australian men after four hours of sleep in Switzerland.
I signed up.
I strapped on a harness. The bitter cold air woke me up. Then I read the contract (see below, notice last sentence, love you mom) and grimaced, then grinned.
“I, the undersigned tourist, admit that I have lost all touch with reality in that I have actually paid good money to _______________ to have some crazy Swiss who I have never met before. Put a harness on me with nothing more than two tiny climbing ropes so that I may throw myself off a little platform meters above a narrow gorge.”
“It’s just like walking down a sidewalk. Only where the sidewalk ends (the platform) you free fall and drop almost 300 feet,” the blonde, amused Aussie said to my roommates and I as we lined up to take the leap.
When it was my turn I closed my eyes, said some sort of prayer or actually maybe just said, “Oh shit.” Then I walked and leapt.
I fell and fell. I lost the sense to breathe, and the pit of my stomach lurched into my throat. After free falling for 300 feet, I started laughing uncontrollably as you begin to swing between the canyon, like a pendulum.
It was a natural high. My endorphins were pumping and I wanted to do it ten more times. I wasn’t tired anymore.
To prove we did it. The bravest.
My point here is to recognize that risks build your life. It makes you brave, it gives you a backbone, it adds character, creates memorable stories and you never have to say, “What if I jumped off that cliff that morning in Switzerland?”
When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap. ~Cynthia Heimel
A big thanks to Grace for contributing this week! If you’re interested in contributing to my blog, leave me a comment on this post and we’ll chat!
