4 Valuable Life Lessons I Learned From Jumping Out of a Plane

4 Valuable Life Lessons I Learned From Jumping Out of a Plane

4 Valuable Life Lessons I Learned From Jumping Out of a Plane

By: Krystal Penrose

 

I’m dangling out of an airplane 2.7 miles in the air, and I’ve got “Dave the Dark Side” strapped to my back.

He tells me that he’s going to count to three, and we’re jumping.

There’s no looking back now.

1….2…. and before we even get to 3, I’m spinning, flipping and soaring through the air at a mere 120 miles per hour. It’s almost like riding the wild winds of a tornado.

There’s no feeling in this world that comes close to jumping out of a plane. Especially when you’re terrified of heights.

Skydiving, for me, was not just some thrill-seeking activity. I had been experiencing a “lull” in my life… a bad case of the 9-5 syndrome.

I was so caught up in life, I forgot to live.

You know that feeling, right?

It was about time I did something to challenge myself. So, I decided to do something that would scare the life out of me, and then hopefully bring it back in a burst. I went skydiving!

While up in the air, here’s a few valuable life lessons I learned:

1.     Get uncomfortable

What makes you uncomfortable? I’m not talking about an old, lumpy bed or tight leather pants. Maybe speaking in front of a group of strangers, or singing karaoke makes you feel out of place. But when you finally challenge yourself, you’re forced to reach deep from within to accomplish it. The result is often life-changing.

Challenging myself to skydive was so much more satisfying than achieving a normal, everyday predictable task. In fact, it inspired me to want to start doing more things I would never dream of doing. It’s funny how a 5 minute activity can change the rest of your life, isn’t it?

2.     Grab fear by the horns

My top 3 fears are creepy crawly creatures, the dark and heights. Which is why when I told my friends I was going, they wondered how I was ever going to jump out of an airplane when I have a hard time actually getting in the plane in the first place.

That’s the funny thing about fear… when I was cold and terrified with my cheeks flapping in the wind, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. For once in my life, I didn’t let my fear stop me from doing something. I more than overcame my fears… I had a blast doing it. Heights? They don’t scare me anymore.

3.     Stop talking and start doing

After my skydiving adventure, every person I talked to said something along the lines of “Wow, I wish I could do that.” My response? You can. It’s much easier to say you’re going to do something, than it is to actually do it. A lot of times, talking about it too much gets in your way.

Why not just do it now? Start by writing a bucket list – I did. I put together a list of 10 things I wanted to absolutely do this summer. And guess what… I can add a “check” next to all of them.

4.     You can’t touch the best things in life

This one is hard because I’ve seen some pretty beautiful sunsets and eaten fantastic food that brought me pure bliss. However, 99.9% of the time, my happiness isn’t based on possessions or things… it’s based on moments.

How many times can you say you’ve jumped out of an airplane? How many times have you laughed until you snorted milk out of your nose? Those moments are rare, but we always remember them, don’t we? Instead of saving up the little money I had to spend on an expensive TV or a designer watch, I saved up to go skydiving and even visited Europe this summer. I have more memories, moments, and laughs stored in my memory from those two adventures than any designer watch or television could bring me.

What would be on your Bucket List?

Molly Keating
Molly Keating
Hello! I'm Molly and I run & manage the Blog here at O'Connor. I grew up in a mortuary with a mortician for a father who's deep respect for the profession inspired me to give working at a mortuary a try. Work at O'Connor has brought together two of my deep passions, writing & grief awareness. In 2016 I earned Certification in the field of Thanatology, the study of Death, Dying and Bereavement. I am honored to be able to speak on these taboo topics with knowledge, compassion, and a unique perspective. I want to sincerely thank you for following & reading the blog, I hope that this is a healing place for you.

16 Comments

  1. Neil O’Connor says:

    Krystal – BRAVO! Great life post! You are inspiring me to live a more full life. My bucket list is my self development in becoming a better husband, father, friend and CEO. I have found great joy of doing things that most people do not want to do, talking to complete strangers, becoming a better listener and facing your fears. Life will only reward us if we truly are wiling to live with changes. We all have the ability to change what ever is going on in our life, you have made my ponder my next fearless change. Cheers!

    • Krystal Penrose says:

      Thank you very much, Neil! What a great bucket list… working to be the best person you’re capable of being is the greatest joy you can find. I can’t wait to find out what your next fearless challenge will be

  2. Carrie Bayer says:

    Krystal, this is an amazing reminder of how to break out of our shell & do things to enrich our lives. I love it! I have always had a bucket list that I revise on occasion. Jumping out of a plane is not on the list since Im terrified of heights but there are many other things on the list that I look forward to doing. And many of them will make me very uncomfortable but that is the beauty of doing them! Thank you so much! Carrie

    • Krystal Penrose says:

      Carrie, glad to hear that you’ve also made a bucket list! They really do help you make the most of life, and when you get to cross something off of them? That’s the greatest feeling in the world! Thanks for the comment, and I wish you luck in conquering all of those challenges!

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