Hang Gliding and Fear
For anyone who has never actually BEEN hang gliding, the reality of going just might be enough to make you reconsider every decision you have ever made. Perhaps you will, from now on, hire someone with a little more common sense to make those decisions for you. Standing on the edge of a cliff with nothing but a big metal structure and what looks like a large kite attached to your back, looking out over what seems like nothing but vastness between the ground and you, may cause your heart to skip more than a few beats. But as you are about to find out when you step off that cliff, there is nothing like it!
Hang gliding can be one of the most exhilarating, thrilling, and fulfilling activities you ever attempt, provided you can get past the fear that is natural when you over think it. Fear is inate, and it is completely normal for the thought of jumping off a cliff or the side of a hill to make you run screaming back to your nice, safe, home or the closest cave. You would actually be a little weird if it didn’t have some trepidation. But one of the most important and truly enjoyable aspects of life is facing your fears and triumphing over them.
Learning more about hang gliding can be a good way of helping you become more comfortable with the idea of doing it. As with anything else, “knowledge is power” (Thank you, Sir Francis Bacon). It can mean the difference between fear and excitement, injury and safety and of course, failure and accomplishment. It is the key to successfully and happily living your life, whether we are referring to the day-to-day, completing college and grabbing your first job or gliding off the top of a mountain. Overcoming the fear, learning the steps for safety and as another expression goes, “Just do it” are all important when attempting hang gliding.
If hang gliding has long been something you’ve entertained the thought of trying, but fear prevented you from doing so, then get in touch with some people in your area who have experience with it. The statistics on hang gliding accidents are really quite low, when comparing them to far riskier endeavors, such as climbing in your car to go to work each morning. It has approximately the same risk level as having surgery. You wouldn’t let your fear of danger keep you from having your tonsils out, would you? So why would you allow it to keep you from an activity that could add a lot of excitement to your life?
Hang gliding is a genuinely fun activity that once you’ve slayed your fears. You can expand your friendships by including other people who enjoy gliding, begin living a less fearful life, and really learn what limits you can push your mind and body to. Other benefits can include alleviating stress in your life (not much stress when you’re soaring above your home and everyone else on the ground, right?) and getting off that couch. Another one is that hang gliding increase hand and eye coordination. There’s nothing like thinking of steering one way to avoid a tree and actually steering the correct way. And fear? Once you’ve overcome your fear of flying, that smaller stuff just seems irrelevant.
Got family drama? Invite them to hang glide with you. Those silly squabbles will all but work themselves out.
