The Ultimate Jump Outside of my Comfort Zone:
I love cliff jumping. It is my favorite adrenaline inducing activity. Most people think it’s crazy to jump off a 50 ft. cliff into the water below, and I will admit, it is incredibly daunting. The height, the seconds of free fall that seem to last minutes, the plunge into the unknown – I’ve jumped off countless cliffs and I still experience an intense adrenaline rush every time.
Little did I know, all the years of launching myself off of cliffs would prepare me for the ultimate jump. Quitting my job and setting off on an indefinite travel adventure was the ultimate jump outside of my comfort zone. I took the plunge and I have not looked back.
Taking the Plunge
Cliff jumping begins with a desire. The spotting of an epic jump, and the mental commitment to push past fears and make the leap. Then there is the journey. You have to get yourself to the top of the cliff. Sometimes this is a smooth climb, but more often than not, you must maneuver past obstacles, jagged rocks, and sheer faces before you get to the spot where you will jump.
The intensity builds along the way. As you climb higher, your heart begins to beat faster and harder, sometimes you can even hear it. Now you’re standing at the ledge, looking down at what is below. There is fear, excitement, nerves, and shaky legs. Time is not your friend. You think that time will allow you to make sense of what you are about to do. In reality, the more time that drags on the more your brain tries to dissuade your body not to go. The more time you contemplate the jump, the more reasons you come up with against jumping – sometimes to the point of paralysis.
The magic happens when you reject what your mind has been wired to do, bend your knees, and explode off the ground, leaving the “familiar and safe” behind. You shut out the fear, doubts, anticipation, nerves and just jump. You defy what your body is telling you and push beyond your comfort zone. It is in these few seconds of free fall that you feel infinite bliss. You don’t know how it will end, but you wish that you could capture this feeling and hold onto it forever. This feeling, when you have pushed beyond your comfort zone, and everything is new.
August 31st 2017
As I sat in the conference room, clutching my 2 weeks notice, waiting for my manager to come in, I felt like I was about to jump off a cliff. My heart was pounding. I could hear it working overtime as I tried to calm my nerves. The plans to quit my job and travel the world began month’s prior. But holy cow, it was actually time to pull the trigger.
In that moment I felt like quitting was the biggest obstacle I would face. That once I jumped off that cliff, there was no turning back. Looking back, it was a big cliff, but it was just the warm up. The practice jump for what was to come. Quitting was one of the most liberating experiences I’ve ever felt. After a year of corporate monotony, I was finally free. I finally took the plunge. No more 6 AM alarms, not more cold calls, rejections or cubicles. I walked out of the office that day feeling like I could conquer the world.
I thought quitting my job would be the hardest part of this whole adventure, but boy was I wrong. As much as I tried, nothing could have mentally prepared me for all the good byes I would need to get through before I ultimately left my parents and walked into the airport.
September 25th 2017
As I write this on my plane to Bangkok, it still doesn’t feel real.
Did I really just get on a plane with a one-way ticket across the world, and no definite plan of return?
This was the ultimate cliff jump. The biggest, scariest, most uncertain cliff I have EVER jumped off.
It’s different from all the other cliffs because not only did I say goodbye to all my family and friends for an indefinite amount of time, but I also said goodbye to who I was as a person on September 25th 2017. I know that I will never be the same. Things at home may not change much in the year or so that I am gone, but I know that I will change. I will change a lot.
The unknown is exciting, daunting, nerve wracking, and adrenaline inducing. I finally took the plunge. I will enjoy this free fall as much as I can, and pray that when I hit the water, I will resurface as a better version of myself.
Have you ever experienced a feeling like this? Comment below.
Best,
Allie
this is so dope, stoked for you!
Thanks LuRay! See you in Oz soon
I have. College to the corporate world didn t suit me either. At the age of 29 I got in my 64 VW bus and hit the road. Not a lot of money in my pockets but some fun in my heart. I worked my way around the western US. (My first 24 years were spent in Indiana.) I think that every time a job ran it’s course and I drove away from that place, I had the feeling you describe. My vagabond adventure lasted about 3 years.
I stayed in my bus a lot. I lived on boats friends yards in the bus and spent a lot of time in the wilds of Az and Utah.
I worked every job I’d ever dreamed of and some I’d never ever heard of and they all led me to a 30 year career as a fireman. I’m retired now but look back on those days as some of my best. I recall the feeling, deep in my gut, as a left those beautiful places with a half baked plan and a puppy in my bus. It’s pretty incredible young lady.
Your experience dwarfs mine. Best of luck to you. Stay safe. Call your Mom.
Alan,
Thanks so much for sharing. You’re adventure sounds awesome as well! My family has a 70 VW bus, I wish it was sturdy enough to trek across the US (we just use it to get us a couple miles to the surf each day). There is so much to see in the US alone. I definitely plan on doing a trip where I drive across the US in my van. Thanks for reading my blog, and hope you continue to follow along!
I have. College to the corporate world didn t suit me either. At the age of 29 I got in my 64 VW bus and hit the road. Not a lot of money in my pockets but some fun in my heart. I worked my way around the western US. (My first 24 years were spent in Indiana.) I think that every time a job ran it’s course and I drove away from that place, I had the feeling you describe. My vagabond adventure lasted about 3 years.
I stayed in my bus a lot. I lived on boats friends yards in the bus and spent a lot of time in the wilds of Az and Utah.
I worked every job I’d ever dreamed of and some I’d never ever heard of and they all led me to a 30 year career as a fireman. I’m retired now but look back on those days as some of my best. I recall the feeling, deep in my gut, as a left those beautiful places with a half baked plan and a puppy in my bus. It’s pretty incredible young lady.
Your experience dwarfs mine. Best of luck to you. Stay safe. Call your Mom.
So well written, Allie! I’m definitely living vicariously through all of your incredible adventures and travels. Looking forward to seeing where you take on next!
Thank you! I have had so many adventures already. I just need to put the pen to paper!