To Find Real Happiness, You Have To Take Real Risks
I knew things would be different after this. I knew I was going back as a new person after this experience.
By Mukta Av
It is important to know yourself. To know what makes you happy, what gives you an adrenaline rush, and what your passions are. It is important to explore all of your sides and embrace the part you love the most.
I always liked traveling. It made me happy to go to different places, meet new people, and stay in a new environment. But it was a revelation for me when the adventurer in me burst out and I knew that this is what I wanted to do, that this is what I loved. A single bungee jump opened a whole new world to me.
I was having a pretty mundane month. Exams had just finished and I was finally free from the library, and suddenly an impromptu plan of a weekend trek with cousins was made — I needed a break, and this was Mother Earth offering me one.
I clearly remember the perfect mixture of anticipation, thrill and nervousness I felt while waiting for my turn to bungee jump. Had I ever done something this exciting? No. Had I ever done something this reckless, which involved jumping from a cliff with just a cord tied to my legs? No. Was I scared? A little bit.
And suddenly, it was time for the jump itself. The view around me was spectacular. Majestic mountains surrounded us. It was almost dusk and the sky had a beautiful orange tinge to it. I could hear the sounds of the river rushing, and all my cousins cheering for me. My safety harness and bungee cord were checked, and the pep talk given by the instructors instilled a sense of confidence in me. I was slowly led to the edge of the cantilever platform jutting out of the cliff. With each step I took, I could feel the adrenaline releasing inside my body, and the excitement trickling down my spine.
Once I reached the edge, I looked straight ahead and I knew I was ready. I heard my instructor yelling “3 2 1 BUNGEE!” and I thought “THIS IS IT!” and made the jump. My feet lost contact with the platform and the first two seconds in the air unraveled in slow motion and I absorbed my picturesque surroundings. I then plunged down, head first into the beautiful valley and I was jubilant. The tension in the cord pulled me up and I dived down again, enjoying it more this time as my body had finally gotten used to being upside down. Finally, physics and gravity stopped my cord, and I was slowly let down and made to lie down on a bed while my harness was removed. While I lay there, my face red because of the blood rush and the adrenaline still pumping through my body, I played the whole experience in my head and it was euphoric. The thought of what I had just done, the exploration of a complete new side of me — and the new life that lay ahead of me — put a very big bright smile on my face.
I knew things would be different after this. I knew I was going back as a new person after this experience. I finally knew what I loved and what I wanted to do in life: I want to travel, and to do all the adventure activities that this world has to offer. Following my bungee jump, I did white water river rafting, zip lining, rock climbing, rappelling and will be soon doing snorkeling and scuba diving. My new life has begun, and I am enjoying every second of it. 