Yesterday I jumped off the 43 metre Kawerau Bridge.
Thankfully, I had a large piece of elastic to stop me from hitting the rocks below.
Bungee jumping is no death defying feat compared to most adventure sports but leaping off a bridge is not an everyday occurrence.
On reflection it taught me 4 things:
Just leap.
After your strapped into the bungee you shuffle towards the edge of the platform. There’s a little handle there to steady you. Everything in your brain is telling you not to let go of the handle. Normally heights = danger.
Rather than letting you go on your own time, the crew count you down. The only thing left to do is jump. Gravity takes care of the rest.
This applies to most things in life. Taking the first step is often the hardest but once you’ve done it natural forces intervene to keep you going.
Things are never as bad as they seem.
I wasn’t nervous until we pulled into the carpark and I saw the bridge. Walking alone towards the crew ratcheted it up a notch.
By the time I hot the bottom of the first bounce I was laughing my head off.
Many things look way worse from the outside but once you’re in they are amazing.
There’s safety in systems.
I don’t know how many jumps they’ve done there since 1987 but the team know what they’re doing. Obviously getting the right bungee for a persons weight is rather crucial..
I was weighed no less than 3 times, my weight was written on my hand and ticket and it was checked by no less than 4 people. With a system like that it’s almost impossible to get wrong.
My business works the same way. Systems power it and keep it predictable. Without those it would fail.
Immediately look for the next challenge.
When I picked up the obligatory photos and t-shirt I went over to look at the higher bungee options around Queenstown. (The Nevis looks fun)
Life is easy to run as a tick box exercise. Occasionally doing mildly challenging things but colouring between the lines.
Growth comes from pushing it.
When you’ve done something that gave you a thrill look for the next one to knock off immediately. In no time you’ll be jumping off the Eiffel Tower only using a box of rubber bands…
