As I’ve written already, Mexico was a complete blast. It was everything I’d imagined and more…and since I’m quite the optimist this is saying a lot!
Before I even went on my trip, I decided I was going to zipline. Since with each year of age I've become more frightened of anything above the second story of my home, this is a big deal. You see, I used to be the girl who took chances. I was the one who was never afraid of anything, and if I was, I sure wasn’t going to admit it!
I remember getting a tongue ring on a trip to Wyoming with a group of girlfriends who were also supposed to get them. The lady was cracked out and apparently up on an night meth-binge…but I didn’t care. I said I was doing it, and by God, I was doing it. So I went first and guess what…I was the only one who went home with a tongue ring. Hey, I didn’t blame my friends, I was crazy!Or, the first trip to Mexico I took where I went para-sailing. I had to be the first one to go as my friends were all skeptical. And I didn’t act the least bit scared when the driver of the boat almost sent my flying into a group of buildings on the beach on my descent back.
Somehow, after birthing two children I’ve decided I’m a scaredy cat. I don’t go on the huge water slides at the parks. I don’t even ride the roller coasters anymore…my old favorite! It’s like now I have two very small beings I’m responsible for, and I don’t want to do anything crazy. Period! The interest is no longer there to prove I’m the tough girl. It drives my husband crazy! He misses the old me.
So, you see my point at the wildness of deciding to zipline…and then on top of that, rappelling from 70 feet in the air. But, as I try to soar upwards with my dreams, I realize I have to face my fears. I can’t run from things that scare me anymore; I have to face them head on.
So, there I went up what seemed like a billion flights of rickety wooden stairs (in the wind, mind you), in the middle of the jungle. With each step the fear was crawling up, threatening to engulf and nearly immobilize me. But, I kept on to the top. I watched Shannon step off the platform of the tower, backwards, secured by only a rope and with a smile on face. I kept thinking, go back Trina-this is crazy.
But, I didn’t go back. I didn’t look down. I stepped off the edge with my heart racing, hoping I wouldn’t plummet down to my most certain death, and rappelled the 70 feet without a hitch. Ziplining came next-it was much easier. I felt free, flying over the beautiful jungle and who knows how fast…not a care in the world.You see I overcame a major obstacle that day…I decided that nothing is going to stop me…ever. I’m going to take my fears and face my hurdles head on, ready to jump. Nothing and no one is going to get in the way of me achieving what I want in this wonderful journey we call life. It may get scary at times, but as I learned, I can handle fear and ultimately turn it to triumph. ~Trina
