Learning to fly

How do we learn to fly?

By inviting our fear to join us.

I’ve always been fascinated by the moment before the leap — the instant when your heart and breathing are palpable, and your attention has no escape.

My first memories of complete presence were standing high above a body of water, and willing myself to do the hard thing - trading the comfort of stability for the freedom of freefall. Decades later, I’ve learned that these are the moments - of consciousness, liminality, awareness of our ability to chose - that shape our lives.

This was me, yesterday, taking a birthday leap into a Montana lake.

Today, my son Rio asked if he could join me.

We climbed the stairs, scaled the railing and stood on the edge peering at the frigid water below.

“Are you scared?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Are you going to jump?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.Moments later, we did.

💦 Courage, I’m learning, is being scared, but leaping anyway. My wish for my new year? To acknowledge the fear, but not let her drive!‍