Since the first day of training, the Leap of Faith task stood out in my mind as I knew I wanted to do it, even though I knew I would be petrified! So when the opportunity finally came on Thursday, the nerves began to set in!
I was thankful to have time with my students in the morning doing other activities, while fellow Mentor Graham tackled the Leap of Faith with his team first, that way I had time to try and build up my confidence!!
When our time finally came, we walked up to the dreaded post where I had a chance to catch up with Graham. I was soooo pleased to hear that he had completed it even though he was worried about it too, and was even more pleased to see he had survived, (totally irrational – I know!!!)
During the morning some of the students and I had already agreed that if they jumped, then I would too, but as they each completed it one by one, my sickness and fear set in more and more and I had no idea how I was going to do it!! So my time came and my whole body was shaking and I felt even more sick, strapped in the harness my walk up the post began.
I tried so hard to contain myself, but halfway up the post I couldn’t help but stop to give me time to compose myself. As I was clinging to the post, all of the students were being so encouraging, I had to carry on and try to get to the top!! Once I finally reached it, all I had to do was climb on top of the post, but fear had completely set in and I couldn’t move a muscle, apart from my mouth of course – I screamed and shouted so loudly, I just couldn’t contain how scared I was!!
The students and instructor were so good, shouting that I could do it and giving me guidance on where to put my feet, I knew I couldn’t give up. It took every ounce of courage in my body to ignore how petrified I was, and step up onto the top. I then just had to jump and try to catch onto the trapeze!!
I can’t remember ever feeling sooooo vunerable but had to carry on, I took one finally breath and jumped – I managed to reach and cling onto the trapeze, but slipped pretty much straightaway and fell down into the safety of the harness!! Once I was brought down to the ground, I couldn’t believe that I done it – I overcame all of that fear and jumped!!
It took five minutes for me to get from the top to actually jumping (the longest five minutes of my life!!) - It just goes to show that you can do anything you put your mind to!!!
Barry Pawley
24 October 2011
Great part of the blog GO GIRL pictures are great say it all