Sometimes You Just Gotta Jump.

The first time I jumped off a high dive…

It was a hot summer day in the 70s. I was stretched out on a towel at our local pool, eating ice cream,
and watching my friends jump off the diving board. They seemed to be having a lot of fun,
and I admired their boldness.

Then, one of them asked me to give it a try.

“WHAT? ME? No way. I am afraid of heights!”

A mixture of sheer panic and excitement took hold of me.

Should I do it? Would it hurt? Maybe I could try?

Reluctantly, I walked over to the ladder and started to climb. The metal bar was wobbly,
and my hands felt wet and slippery. I had a hard time breathing.
My legs felt weak, and my stomach turned.

I didn’t dare to look down.

My mouth was dry. Somehow, I made it to the top.

I was shaking.

This Did Not Feel Safe.

The ground was far away, and there was nothing to hold on to.

After catching my breath and finding my balance, I carefully stepped to the edge and peeked down.

It was so high.

I glanced back at the rickety ladder and felt trapped.

I stood there, breathing hard. The diving board felt slippery beneath my feet. My mind raced.
I kept looking down, trying to find the courage to jump.

What if I land on my belly? Or my back? Water will definitely shoot up my nose. Has anyone ever died jumping off a high dive?

“Come on, it’ll be fun. Just jump! You’ll be fine.”

My friends kept cheering me on.

At some point, I simply did it.

I will never forget that moment — the drop in my stomach and the rush of air
as I flew downward. It took my breath away. Within seconds, I hit the water.

And everything was fine.

It didn’t hurt. I didn’t drown.

Instead, I felt electrified.

Again, I thought.
I want to do it again.

There Are Moments in Life When You Just Have to Jump

Sometimes the decision isn’t yours, and life pushes you off the edge.

You lose your job.
A relationship ends.
Your children leave home.

But what about the moments when there is no outside force pushing you forward?

How do you know when it’s time to leap?

It’s a lot like standing on that high dive.

The choice is yours.

You can jump, trusting that you will be fine.
You can take your time, weighing the pros and cons and gathering your courage.
Or you can turn around and climb back down the ladder.

There is no single right choice — not on the high dive, and not in life.

Each decision has its value, depending on the moment.

I have taken many risks over the years, big and small, and this is what I know:

More often than not, things work out just fine.

Life opens up.
Energy returns.
A path appears.

Waiting, I have learned, is often
more painful than jumping.

What has been your experience stepping into the unknown?

Have you ever taken a leap before you felt ready?

I’d love to hear your story.

As always, thank you for reading.

Karin