Preparing for the Jump

Tomorrow I’ll trust a man I’ve yet to meet at the cost of my life and a couple hundred dollars.  

Together, we’ll fall fifteen thousand feet from Earth’s floor. 

While he handles the fate of our future, I’ll appreciate the curvature of the Earth without a window to separate us from the clouds.

For as long as the jump lasts, I’ll hope my harness is safe and secure as I simultaneously wonder in awe from heights I’d only ever see with the help of TSA Precheck. 

I don’t think at twenty two anyone should have “it” figured out. Let’s be real, what’s “it” anyway? 

I do, however, think that at twenty two, everyone should know:  

-Steak should only be eaten if it’s medium rare.

-Stain remover sticks are cheaper than spoiling clothes indefinitely. Put one in every bag that you own. 

-Laundry. Learn how to do it or pay someone who's willing.

-Be generous with your tip. Life is hard and yours was made easier. This is not exclusive to laundry but life in general. 

-Fear lives in your mind, not your gut. Failure to differentiate the two stunts growth more than caffeinated coffee given to a child. 

-If you love someone, let them know — it’s one of the few reminders that never gets old.

There’s more to life than this list which is the whole point of tomorrow. 

I’m interested to figure out when — if at all — will my lungs no longer sandwich my heart. 

Will my heart sink to my stomach as I pull into the parking lot or when the doors of the helicopter open right before it’s my turn to jump? 

We trust people with our lives every day. Tomorrow’s adventure is no different but rather a literal sense of the act. 

Perhaps that’s why I’m not particularly nervous since calculated risks happen all the time whether it’s sprinting to the subway to catch the next train home, stepping on the gas once the light turns yellow or skydiving. The only real difference that makes the last stand out is the role it plays — or lack thereof — in my life. 

Some people go skydiving to face their fears while others go for the memory to keep.

Truthfully, I’m going because my twenties have humbled me greatly so far. I don’t know much about myself but I’m starting to think the person I was so sure of in high school is not the same person whose reflection stares back at me in the mirror any more.

I’ve gotten to know a few of life’s teachings and truths but I’m still unsure about the rest of it. 

All I hope is for tomorrow to be a good step — or jump — in the right direction wherever that leads me so long as I’m able to write about it afterwards.