My New Happy: Be Brave And Hang In The Air

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Be Brave And Hang In The Air


A few months ago I wrote about ziplining and my plan to take my husband for our anniversary.  Then a friend mentioned an aerial ropes course nearby and told me that it was even more fun, so I made reservations for last Sunday.  And now we are not friends anymore, because I'm pretty sure she was trying to kill me. Just kidding, H!

According to the interwebs, a ropes course is an aerial obstacle course set 50 feet off the ground with a variety of activities that test your courage, balance and strength.  

We arrived early to check in and scope the place out.  From the ground the course looked simple, and perhaps even a bit....boring?  My guys stood around watching the group before ours and I mentioned that it looked pretty easy. Famous last words.



Soon we had our safety gear on and were ready to ascend to the course.  The only way up was by rope ladder, which the boys climbed like spider monkeys.


Then it was my turn.  I confidently started up, but within ten feet realized that I had seriously underestimated this adventure.  The rope ladder was swaying, I was feeling a little vertigo, and it was a long way to the top.  I considered turning around, but that wouldn't be brave. Best to not look down and just keep going.


I finally reached the "party" platform and an employee asked which way I wanted to go. Follow the teenagers, I thought.  Have I learned nothing in my twenty years of parenting boys?  They never pick the easy route.

The next few hours were physically exhausting, challenging, and at times, terrifying. Logically I knew that I was attached to very strong cables and couldn't fall far.  But stepping out onto thin ropes or swinging pieces of wood, with not much to hold onto, was difficult and required a bit of mental preparation.  I have a whole new respect for high wire performers and teams on the Amazing Race.

G and the boys were rock stars and maneuvered around like they'd done it a million times.



I spent a lot of time doing this.  Heeeeelp meeeee!!!!


Soon it was time to head down, which was accomplished via zipline.  Something familiar!  I volunteered to go first, because I'm nice like that.

It was wonderful to be back on terra firma, looking at my crazy family, who could have stayed up there all day.


Would I do it again?  Probably not.  I'm proud of myself, but next time I'm looking for something that doesn't require bravery five stories off the ground.

38 comments:

  1. I want to zip line Lana... not sure I want to walk around on swaying pieces of wood 5 stories high... I don't have the balance I used to have... it's one of the reasons I want to take up yoga :-) ♡

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    1. I definitely recommend zip lining Launna - it's so much fun!

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  2. How fun! So glad you did this...I would love to try it.

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  3. This looks like it would be fun and challenging. Good for you for keeping up with everyone : )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. It was definitely challenging - and I probably shouldn't have tried to keep up with those boys!

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  4. You're awesome, Lana! At least you can say that you tried it!! AND you had an afternoon of family time!!

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  5. Never, EVER say or think that you are not brave again Lana! Wow! Give yourself a pat on the back! I'm so impressed!

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    1. Thanks Susan. I was pretty wimpy up there, but at least I did it!

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  6. I'm in awe of you! You are so brave! I am terrified of heights and always feel like I'm going to fall. I don't think I would have been able to make it through!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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    1. Thanks Jill. I definitely get vertigo sometimes, so I had to make sure I wasn't looking down unless I was holding on to a big pole!

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  7. I want to do this! We did something similar in Switzerland, and it was SO much fun. You're amazing that you conquered your fear and got it done! Were you super sore the next day?

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    1. Yep, and now it's Wednesday, and I'm still sore :)!

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  8. Wow, that looks scary. So brave of you to do this :)

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  9. Damn impressive. My first thoughts? Amazing Race land. How very brave of you to do this. I bet you still feel exhilarated and proud. And so you should. Well done.

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    1. Thanks Kelly. I was thinking about the Amazing Race too - and they do this over caverns and rivers!

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  10. This looks like fun but ALOT of hard work! Don't tell me you're giving up on skydiving!

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    1. I'm definitely not giving up on skydiving. I'm thinking for my 50th birthday!

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  11. What a great memory you made with your boys. Keep the pictures to prove it and maybe you won't have to go again! :) It sounds fun though!

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    1. Good idea - I definitely don't want to go again!

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  12. You go!!! I'd be proud of myself too if I were you. My sister has done this locally and in Mexico. I think she actually seeks it out wherever she is.
    WHAT??

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  13. Yeah. I'm much, much braver standing on good old terra firma!

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  14. Oh, my. Scarier than ziplining. Might have to pass on this little adventure. We ziplined in the Dominican Republic and I did fine from station 1-8 but I got to station 9 and I flipped. Flipped out! Not in a huge scene-making way but just felt sure I couldn't go on. But somehow I did. Kind of like having a baby. You can't just stop mid-labor. So proud of you to do this. Love your review. It's enough to keep me on solid ground for now.

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    1. I love your analogy - like having a baby. I kept telling myself I had to move forward, because there was no other way to go!

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  15. I've done this a time or two with my family, and it's crazy scary! I'm pretty much allergic to adrenaline (ha!), so this stuff takes every ounce of courage I have. The good thing is that I'm less scared of heights now. I figured out that I'm okay with the height as long as I know that I KNOW that I won't fall. So I guess it's falling that terrifies me?!? Good for you for sticking with it!

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    1. So funny Michael Ann - it's definitely the fear of falling that gets me too! I'm so glad you stopped by today!

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  16. It looks like fun! I'd love to do this (she says... as she was crying and clutching the grass with severe vertigo last time she went hiking). Maybe I'll just look at your pictures and have a glass of wine instead, lol! xx

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  17. I have always wanted to try this! My daughter did a small one and said it was the hardest thing ever! And she plays competitive soccer!
    I would most likely be yelling 'help me' too!!

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    1. You should definitely do it! It was definitely hard but worth it in the end.

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