Taking the Leap

I sat on a very high (to me) ropes course ledge last summer and I wasn’t sure if I could let go. I was harnessed in securely. I had kids and adults cheering me on. I had made the decision to ride the zip line. But I was scared! I was at a kids’ camp and the sweet kids I was with, including one of my daughters and nieces, were cheering me on. I couldn’t let them down. And I didn’t want to let myself down. Finally, I did it. I made the leap! I allowed myself to fall into the security of the harness and make the journey to the other side of the zipline. Was I ready? No. Did I know what the ride was going to be like? No! Was I glad I did it? Yes!

In a way, we took a leap by going on this 180-day journey. We didn’t have every possible thing in place. But we had the basics ready—the “harness” that would take us to the other side of the line.

Why did we take the leap?

• We wanted to experience this adventure as a family.

• We knew we would grow and learn from the experience.

• We wanted a different pace of life for a season.

Remembering why we wanted to go on this journey kept us motivated to keep working toward this goal of traveling and encouraged us to not give up on this dream.

What did we need and how did we make it happen?

• We needed time. In order to make our journey happen, we carved out extra time for travel and worked along the way. In this day and age people often work from a distance or work flexible hours, which can allow many opportunities for travel. We’ve been able to work from home on our trip and still have time to see a lot of great places.

• We needed resources. In order to pay for the cost of our trip, we had to save a bit. We worked extra jobs, set money aside, sold things, and have found great deals to make it happen. Putting together all the resources to take your journey can be a lot of fun.

• We needed help at home. Finding a way to take care of your responsibilities at home is important. House, pets, and other items might require a little extra attention. We’ve been thankful to all our family and friends who have helped make our journey possible through their support back home.

• We needed a plan. When the time comes to plan for a trip, you first have to decide where you want to go, what kind of activities you want to do, and how you will get around. Be careful not to over plan though, especially for longer trips. You want to leave some flexibility for circumstances that come up. You can also go on some adventures closer to home for practice and to motivate your family to keep working toward the goal of the big trip.

These things have been the harness that has allowed us to make this trip.

Time. Resources. Help at home. A plan.

There are many other details that were set in place before we left, and there were many secondary details that were not set in place before we left. But we had the basics there—enough to take the leap.

Looking back at my zipline ride, I picture my scared face and squeals as I made the leap. I picture my less than perfect landing of sliding in the dust. I also remember the feeling of letting go of the rope as I decided to depend on the harness to hold me up. Once I let go of my fears, the ride was actually pretty fun!

When we have dreams to reach for, fear can creep in. I encourage you to take the leap. Your dream might be to travel the world, travel your state, make a new friend, or learn something new. Whatever it might be, it never hurts to begin taking steps toward the leap. Now is a great time to start!

Do you have to be ready? No.

Do you have to know what the ride will be like? No.

Will it be worth it? Yes!