I remember spending the summer with my grandparents on a farm in Denmark back when I was seven years old. We spend the time on a pig farm where I got to see what life on farm was like; I had a wonderful time feeding the hundreds of pigs (!!!), drive a tractor (yes at seven) and even got my picture in the local news paper as I “worked” with the farmer. There were other people that also were spending the time there, including an older Dutch lady-a woman I’ll get back to later. One day we went to the local public pool that included the Olympic size swimming pool, and a competition diving tower. I remember looking up at the tower and wondering how it would be to dive off of the 10 meter (30 feet) board and without anybody noticing, climbed up the stairs and finally found myself on top of the tower, with everyone at the pool looking up at a skinny young boy looking down at the crowd. I was not nervous, for my young skinny body it looked like I was on top of Denmark highest mountain Himmelbjerget (only 163 meters “high “by the way) , I wanted to jump, and as I saw my grandparents waiving, and the old Dutch lady-that I afterwards found out had been an Olympic diver-waiving in what I took as encouragement.
I later found out that my grandparents had been terrified and was not waiving, but actually screaming for me not to jump, and to climb down, but the Dutch diver had told them to let me jump. “If he climbs down, he will not feel the sensation of a 10 meter dive, and will think it is dangerous, and he will probably never try it again later. Let him jump” she had said, as she waived her encouragement to me.
Well- I didn’t jump; I looked out over the edge, and quickly looked and dove in-head first, in what would have come as a surprise even to the old diver lady. It was a sensation I will never forget. I flew like an eagle, head first of course, and managed to fly for a couple of seconds before splashing in to the blue pool that had looked so small from way up there on the tower. I am sure I smiled as I came to the surface, -but all I could remember was worried grandparents and a fat x-diver with a big grin on her face looking down at me. It was sensational, and I felt like I had never ever felt before-at my very young age I might add.
I thank the old Dutch lady for encouraging me to take that first plunge, and for showing me that if you want to experience something – you must dare to try. Jump in—Take the plunge! If you wonder how it will be, the only real way to find out is to try—of course if it is known that it will be detrimental to your health, you might have some precautions, but if you don’t try and jump in, how can you ever find out how it really is?
Growing up I was always encouraged by my parents that I could do anything I wanted. They let me try things that (normal) parents most likely wouldn’t allow their kid– and the result is I have never been afraid to try things—at least once.
44 year later I am at a waterfall in the mountains of North Carolina. It is a deep pool of water with a beautiful waterfall, just about 50 feet high with a small ledge around 30 feet up on the side. Someone had put a rope there so one could climb up, to make it easier to get to the ledge-most likely another plunger–that is if you want to jump in to the pool from up there. I quickly find myself pulling the now old body up the side and climbing to the ledge. Again people waiving, and me looking down. “Wow, this looks higher than I like” is my immediate thought, and I think back to the cliff divers we watched in Jamaica back 17 years earlier, they were diving off the 50-60 feet cliffs outside the perfectly set restaurant for pocket change. I did jump off that cliff as well by the way- jumped off in front of the whole company that was there on a trip, in my underwear as I hadn’t brought any swim trunks-but nevertheless, it was as I felt like a cliff diver for that one jump. . Back to the waterfall in the Appalachians, and I look down. It is a very noisy waterfall and I can’t see anything but the pool below, and I move slowly forward to the edge. “What is it about age that makes things seem so much more dangerous” is the thought that comes to mind as I am looking down at the people that look up at me. I am a daredevil- correction- I was a daredevil, because I am now a wee bit nervous-for what I don’t know, but nevertheless this now seams scary. The only way to conquer your fears is to do it-I remember reading somewhere, but I am nervous. Then I lose my negative thoughts-my fears– and probably also my senses, as I find myself leaning forward and—take the plunge. I jump, and feel the sensation and thrill of falling, q couple of seconds before landing in a wonderful, chilly and sensational undercurrent that shoots me quickly back up to the surface like a beach ball that has been pushed under the surface. Wow – what a sensation_ think and I am sure the smile on my face is similar to the one back 44 years ago in that Danish pool.
When one is young it seems like nothing can happen to you and being scared is merely a word that is in the distant future-at least for me in my youth. Maybe I just was looking for that challenge, or prove that I could do things because of my own insecurity, but a challenge was all it took, and off I went-Took the Plunge off whatever safe ground was there and in to the dark unknown. That is what it is all about-taking the plunge. When you are safely grounded and what seems so familiar feels so safe, but taking that chance, trying something unknown, and jumping inn-head first and see what it brings you. If you think an oyster looks disgusting, the only way to find out how it taste like is to eat one. If you want to feel the sensation of fighting a salmon on a river is to salmon fishing. If you want to find out how it feels to hit a golf ball 300 yards over a water hazard, is to go for it -laying up safely is just not an option. If the sign reads “You proceed at your own risk” there is nothing stopping you– that is if you wonder what is behind the sign of course. The only way to find out is to take the plunge and go for it.
Life can be so safe and secure, but the thrills are there for us all, if we just take the plunge and go for it. If you wonder why everyone is raving about the food in Catalonia, the way to find out is to go to Barcelona and order something off a local menu.
I love the feeling of getting strapped in on a roller coaster, and rolling up that first portion f the track. You know it is no way down from where you are, it is somewhat safe, and you know that it will be scary. You go to the top, you look around you can see the entire county from there and it is only one way out-and that is to enjoy the ride. You find yourself on the top looking down and suddenly the coaster falls freely in to the abyss, down down down before a jolt and upwards before turning in a loop and throwing you right, lefty and down again. I have barely ever seen anyone without a smile going off a roller coaster-however scared going up…..Taking the plunge is what it is all about, if you want to have fun that is.
For some reason, age takes its toll and physically there are limitation as one grows older, but there are thrills to seek every day.
Taking the plunge is of course more than jumping off a tower in to a pool of water. If you are not satisfied with something in your life, it is always time to make it better. If you always wanted to ride a motorcycle across country, I suggest you start taking riding lessons and plan the trip. It is probably a thrill and the journey will be successful. If you have never skinny dipped in a lake at night-sneak out tonight– drop your drawers and jump in. I am sure it will be fantastic.
Thank you to the old Dutch Olympic diver that let me take my first plunge. Without her, I would probably have been asked to shamefully climb down the stairs to safety. Without her I might not have had the memory of flying at age seven. Without encouragement from people that have said: “Yes you can do it!”- I wouldn’t have taken the chances I have taken throughout my life. Without people like the Dutch woman, and my parents I might have been wonder: “What if?” With people that have positive attitudes and believes in trying, I have never had to ask myself” I wonder if?”
What in store for me-now as I am in my fifties? —I have decided to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Sounds scary as hell, but people seem to claim that it is a fantastic feeling, so I have decided to try it. It’s been on my bucket list for a while and it’s time to take the plunge. I just convinced myself that it doesn’t make any sense, so therefore I will do it. I’ll let you know how it was-I promise
