Reach for Your Dreams

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Dreams worth reaching for

When you stretch and do something you’ve never done before, you try to imagine what it will be like to achieve your dreams.  Most of us fear the unknown and that helps keep us where we are, even if it’s a place we dislike.  It’s easier to stay in that place in fear of what others may think or that maybe we’ll fail.  Why have dreams?

Preparing for your Dreams

This past summer I got to repel off a 200 foot cliff for the first time in my life.  I’ve got to tell you I’m really afraid of heights and this was never one of my dreams.  But, my husband was training for a longer repel and I really wanted to go with him.  I hate him going off without me so I decided to try to embrace that fear and give it a shot.

I have had some training on ropes in a gymnasium, but that was only 30 feet or so with lots of people helping me.

The Day Arrives

So, we loaded up all the gear and headed to Rough River Gorge in Central Kentucky.  If you haven’t been there, it is beautiful and definitely put it on your bucket list.  We had to hike several miles and it was a gorgeous day.  Hiking gives you time to reflect on your dreams.

I was wondering the whole time what it would be like and if I could do it.  Would I chicken out?  Would I get hurt?  Should I turn around?

But I kept going and little did I know the climb up to the peak was going to be harder than anything else I did that day.  We got to a point called Indian Staircase and my husband tells me we’re going up.  Well, we started using our hands and found little indents in the rocks.  By the time we were half way up I almost panicked and my husband had to talk me through the rest of the climb.  After belly crawling up the rest and finally reaching the top, I collapsed.

Now I had no choice, I either had to repel down on rope or somehow get back down the way we came and that was not happening.  So I gathered my wits about me and pressed forward.  We found a short (60 ft) drop and they proceeded to rig the ropes and I tried to mentally prepare myself.

With LOTS of encouragement and guidance from the real repellers I backed towards the cliffs edge.  I had to trust them and the gear.  Finally I eased over the edge and found myself  hanging from the rope and I hadn’t died.  Whew!

We practiced several more times on the smaller drops and headed to the big one.  I watched as my husband went over the side and thought I was crazy for being here.  But, I knew I had no other choice but to follow the others.  They kept telling me it wasn’t any different than the shorter drop.  Sure!

Well I tied onto the rope and yelled ‘On Repel’ like I’m supposed to and slowly inched my way to the edge.  I just kept thinking of my son and wasn’t sure I’d see him again.  I wish I could say I had more encouraging thoughts than that.

Yikes its time for my dreams to come true!

Let me tell you leaning back off a cliffs edge is the scariest thing I ever did.  You have to finally push off and drop past the edge.  My foot slipped and I gracefully slammed into the side of the mountain, but recovered fairly quickly.  After I got past that part, I was free hanging and wasn’t flying down the rope.  I actually had control and was doing it!

The ride down was amazing and it was just gorgeous all around me.  I could hear the wind and running of water off the side of the mountain.  The trees were spectacular.  The forest floor got closer and closer.  Then I saw my husband and others below ready to help if I needed.

At last my feet hit the ground along with the rest of me  (more practice needed there).

I did it!  I faced my fear of heights and accomplished my dream, something most people won’t.  I did it for me and was so proud of myself.

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do?  You need to put aside your past fears and embrace your dream.  Believe you can achieve it and take action.  What’s better?  Doing the same thing you always have or reaching for your dreams.  Enjoy the ride!

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