I am currently on a 7 hour flight… Long, I know. This post will technically be for Thursday because I am writing on Thursday, but won’t be able to post until Friday morning early.
With all this idle time I figure it gives me a great opportunity to share one of the best experiences I have had in my life. That experience just so happens to have happened this morning at 7:00 (Hawaii time). Earlier in the trip, my good friend, Jackson, told me about this great thing he had done during his time on the island. “Paragliding” it was called, but I wasn’t really sure what that was. It sounded cool. Basically, what it is is parasailing, just not attached to the back of a boat. He described it as running off a cliff, but letting the air catch you and take you up. Now that may not sound fun, I know. But, being the daredevils that we are, we decided to check it out. Knowing me like you do, I like to think things thru…so here was my thought process:
1. When would I have the opportunity to do something like this again?
2. Why should I let the fear of something keep me from being adventurous?
3. How good of a picture would I get?
Needless to say, I was right about all 3. Sometimes in life you have to realize what’s in front of you and remember the term Carpe Diem. You always have to tell that devil (fear) to go away because once you do that you will really be able to live life. And let me tell you, I got some great photos. (Pictures and video below… Check them out)
Essentially we did go to the top of a mountain and run down a very steep hill….the rest was in the air. The view from the top was breathtaking. I mean a picture can’t even show how pretty it all was. You have to wait for the wind to be going the right direction and then run into it because that is what is needed for an easy takeoff. My pilot and I waited and when the wind came, we ran. I wasn’t really scared I was just unsure of what I was doing lol. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but just like they said, the wind lift you and so me and my pilot went… Up, up, up, and away! As we began to fly I couldn’t believe it. I had done it and the view was well worth it. I mean you could see almost the whole island. Incredible. Also, I thought it would be real loud up there, but it was actually one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. I mean, I felt like God was just going to start talking to me. It was that quiet and that high. 7200 feet to be exact. My pilot took my GoPro and got some great shots/video. I mean I loved it. All while taking in God’s amazing creation all around us.
He asked if I liked rollercoasters and I do so I said I did and then he did all these trick moves that made us feel like we were going to go straight to the ground. Better than any rollercoasters I’ve ever been on. So so fun!
We also witnessed a wedding and my pilot said he was a show off and he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. For a second I though he was maybe the groom about to land right on his own wedding. We got so close, but everyone on the ground loved it. They were waving and taking all sorts of pictures. Crazy!! The landing wasn’t bad at all we just ran straight in all gentle and what not. The whole thing was WAY easier than I thought.
Needless to say, I am thankful for today. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I mean it was one of those once in a lifetime experiences. God is so good and it is so easy to see that from 7200 feet up in the air. I still can’t get over it! If you ever have the chance to take a leap of faith (literally or figuratively) I highly encourage you to. I am so thankful I did that today and I know you’ll be thankful to. It really puts life into an amazing prospective. I could not be more thankful today. Aloha… Hang loose via paragliding.
Yours Truly,
Southern and Thankful
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