Fresh New Day» 080 – Lessons from the ledge

We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.
– Kurt Vonnegut

Orange rope dangling down the side of the building I was walking past gave me a clue as to what was happening above me. As I looked up my suspicions were confirmed. On the roof of the building I could see feet swinging over the ledge.

I stopped to look and listen.

Very quickly I realised this was a practical learning lesson. One man was teaching the other how to abseil. It was interesting to watch the foot movements and then ultimately the learner making his first abseil down the glass wall of the Central Library building. The man’s legs appeared to be dancing as he came down. The sounds he released reinforced how much he was enjoying himself. I knew that feeling – the thrill and the joy of your first abseil. I found it so exhilarating I wanted to do it over and over again. A part of me wanted to yell out – “Hey, can I have a go?”

My first experience of abseiling was at a school camp that my oldest daughter Zofia was attending. I was a parent helper for the day. I ended up being assigned to the group of students that were going to go abseiling. I had to help the kids into their harnesses while an instructor (an experienced, trained abseiler) checked everything and taught them what they needed to know before they were lowered over the edge to do their thing.

There was one young, rather largish, Pacific Island boy who was too scared to give it a go. He was convinced the ‘D’ rings couldn’t possibly hold his weight and he would fall. He was the first kid in the group to not be prepared to give this a go (little was I to know that my daughter was to be the next one). I could see the boy was feeling embarrassed even though his classmates were being very supportive.

“How about I do it,” I said to the young boy. “If I make it to the bottom in one piece you’ll know you’ll be okay because I’m so much bigger, and heavier, than you.”

It took a moment for me to realise what I had suggested. The instructor agreed it was a great idea and before I knew it I was being strapped into a harness and being instructed on what I needed to do. The next thing I knew I was going backwards down the wall of a building … and I loved it. I can still feel the buzz of that abseil and a part of me was sad when I feet touched the ground again.

The young boy did his abseil after me with everyone cheering him on. It brought tears to my eyes how everyone supported their classmate but most of all the sense of achievement in that boy’s face was magical. Sadly I wasn’t as successful in convincing my own daughter to give it a go. I didn’t let that deter me – I went on to complete some more abseils and I even managed a rap jump where you descend face first.

Often we have no idea what we’re capable of until we go over that edge. I learnt a lot about myself that day and I was only meant to be a parent helper.

Manifesto
06. Every day you make choices.
07. Every day making no choice is a choice.
21. Every day seek the support of others. You are not alone.

Fresh New Day

080 – Lessons from the ledge

Browse

Post a Comment