More than 60 seconds......

I've been thinking a lot lately about my willingness to put so much time, money and energy into 60 seconds - the average time of freefall in one skydive. A jump ticket costs $22 - that's $22 a minute! I can't think of anything else off the top of my head that costs more than $22 a minute, except for a tandem skydive or a coach jump!

In order to make myself feel better I try to tell myself that it is not just about the 60 seconds of freefall but about the entire process - about the journey so to speak. It's self-help, motivational-life-skills-type of talk that I am begrudgingly employing here to make myself feel more sane, less guilty about letting those dollars fly.

Heart: "It's all about the freefall! It's all about the freefall! I'll pay whatever it takes to get more time in freefall!"

"Brain: "It can't just be all about the freefall because that just doesn't make sense. It costs way too much!"

Heart: "You know I don't care about that! There's nothing like it in the world and you can't take money with you when you die."

Brain: "Well I can see that there is nothing I can say to change your mind about this so we're going to have to cooperate. Lets see if we can come up with an answer that satisfies us both."

Heart: "Well I'll work to find more meaning in the process beyond freefall and you go find more money!"

So I sat down with my heart and mind and we had little a chat - a heart to heart one could say - or a brainstorm... Okay stop me now before I overdo this whole thing...

Anyways...

When I really thought about it I realized that each $22 jump ticket really does pay for more than 60 seconds of freefall. Granted - those 60 seconds are the highlight - but there is so much more to it.

Each jump is a ritual. Living in our discombobulated and disconnected culture I often feel lost. Rituals resonate. They can bring comfort and a sense of well-being, especially when they are shared with others.

Each element of the skydiving ritual is wrought with meaning and importance because you are embarking on an activity where your life is put at risk. Pre-jump rituals remind us of this and help keep us sharp and prepared.

The ritual begins.

Manifest - You've signed up.

Your name is called.

Put your gear on... piece by piece - in an orderly fashion - in exactly the same way you do it every time lest you forget something.

Gear check

"Three handles, three straps, three rings and little yellow thing."

The number three is a spiritual one.

Pin check.

Check it again.

Ask someone else to check it.

One more time if you want to.

Anyone, friend or stranger will do it - and give you two thumps on the back - you're good to go. No one will fault you for checking it twice, three times. The group respects that each person's ritual is sacred.

Ride to altitude.

Some of my most important personal work in life has happened on the plane ride up.

For me this is a time to take stock of the situation, a time to meditate. It is a time carved out for the mind between the physical act of preparing your gear and the physical performance of the skydive itself. In this time there are so many things to think about and so many things not to think about.

Clear - your day, your tomorrow, your work, your anxiety, your fear

Visualize - your exit, your dive plan, what you will do, how it will feel, your success, your happiness.

Smile.

Visualize - your parachute malfunctioning, you calmly and deliberately pulling your cutaway handle, you calmly and deliberately deploying your reserve.

Breathe.

Now you can-

enjoy the view.
close your eyes and relax.
kiss your boyfriend on the head.
make bad jokes with Dan.
geek a camera.
give a thumbs up to a tandem student.
be excited.
be quiet.

But always be alive and in the present.

Then one last mandatory ritual.

Look each person on the plane in the eye. To each one - give a high five or peace sign. "Have a good jump."

God forbid it could be the last time you may see that person alive. It's one very real dark shadow of a fact. So good energy in this moment is a must. It is the glue that holds us all together in a common good faith and joy.

We've all prepared ourselves - now its time to let go.

Be free.

Fly on out the door and savor the next 60 seconds.