My job surprised me. I was a person I thought I was not. Travelling the world alone, meeting with corporate VIPs like I knew their business. Their eyes looked for someone else when they entered the room. And they found just me. India, Morocco, Germany, China, Thailand. And just me.
In Brazil, on a rare no-appointment day, I took a flying leap. Quite literally.
Strapped to a stranger, we took five running steps to the mountain’s edge and I was hang gliding. He started to talk. Point out landmarks below. Shhhh. Please, no. Silent exhilaration as we drifted through rays of sun. Slow banks turned me to a spiritual place: empowered, thankful, proud. I am doing this. Feet touched earth after ten minutes of solitude strapped to a man I knew not. And during that time, a lifetime of time, I became a new me.
Breeze flows midst rays of sun
clouds drift through golden shimmer
let go, let God, and soar.
Haibun written for dVerse Poets’ Pub, Open Link Night. Poets may post a poem of their choice. Photos: yep – that’s me.
lillian the home poet 
I can imagine a jump like that changed you… love how you just wanted to go with the gliding not caring about the sights… I’m not sure I would dare
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I actually have a video (cameras were strapped to the “wings”) of it — and you see me (us) crossing the sun rays. It truly was a lifetime event.
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Beautiful! Often it is when we discover what we are capable of and end up finding our true selves when doing something we are meant to ❤
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Wise words, Sanaa! 🙂
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I love that sense of wild abandon in this. I don’t blame you for shushing the guy and living fully in the moment. You are a courageous woman, sista.
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It’s an experience I’ll never forget! 🙂 I didn’t tell any of my family I was going to do this. Just showed them the video (camera was strapped to “wing”) and photos when I got home!
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right on righT oN! ……..My fav sport! 🙂
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Well — for me a once in a lifetime experience! 🙂
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Good for you! My husband and I did this (not at the same time) years ago when we were young sprouts. You nailed the feeling of abandon and I am so glad you shushed your man. I did the same thing because it was so incredible to look and see from Icarus’ point of view. What fun you had!
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Icarus’ point of view — well said! 🙂
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In the winter of my life, vertigo plagues me a lot; so I will enjoy this spiritual flight very vicariously. Brave you are, like my wife. She travels alone often, because my health restricts my flight times. Road trips are my passion.
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Ah…and the road can take us many places — peaks and valleys and, I’m certain, places to take a flying leap from too! 🙂 Glad to take you on the ride, Glenn.
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Lillian, I can honestly say, “You’ll never find me, strapped like that. Never, in a thousand years!” My fear of heights knows, no limits. But, am willing to read, about your voyage of self-discovery, with my feet, firmly planted, on the ground. 🙂
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Well then….happy to take you on this virtual ride 🙂
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This just made me smile. I’ve also done some crazy things in other countries. Moments where you have to push yourself… but once you have, you’ve never quite the same person again.
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Totally agree! 🙂 Smling I am and so happy you are too!
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Wow, what an experience! ‘Like Icarus ascending over geometric farms…’
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So glad you enjoyed!
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Wonderful! I am envious, as I have a crippling fear of heights. Maybe someday I’ll fly as such, and write something this good. Loved.
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Well….happy to take you along on this flight with my words 🙂
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I know what you mean about not being ‘me’ in that business context. I feel like that most days! What a great way to find yourself!
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It was indeed! 🙂
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Like Glenn, I will enjoy this through your experience. How wonderful!
I also like the phrase, “Strapped to a stranger.” I might ask to borrow that sometime for a poem ^_^
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Borrow away! 🙂
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What an adventure and I love your statement after: I became a new me.
Each new adventure always changes us and I like how you are open to life’s adventures ~
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Open to life’s new adventures — great phrase. I do indeed espouse to that — especially in my rejuvenatement phase of life! 🙂
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I think your experience mirrors how many of us take our leaps of faith to simply be ourselves and in the world. However we travel toward ourselves and the divine the journey transforms. Thank you for sharing the beauty and majesty of your unique leap!
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Oh it was a leap of faith indeed!
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Wow, that is about as close as you can get to flying without growing wings. Very cool. I went para-sailing once and I will never forget the feeling, such a rush. And soar you did 🙂
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The sound of quiet — just the whooshing of the invisible air as we banked and turned — amazing!
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As someone who really doesn’t like heights I applaud you for doing this. Great poem. 🙂
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It was truly an amazing experience. I watched the video again a few nights ago — there was a camera attached to the frame — and I was up for almost a full 10 minutes. Truly exhilerating! Glad to take you on the ride with my words 🙂
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That’s amazing… and you managed to convey the feeling so well 🙂 Now I’m envious, I flew a small plane once and it was one of the greatest experiences, yet this seems even more liberating. I’m glad you shared your experience with us.
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Glad to “take you along” 🙂
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Sometimes travelling can help us find that hidden self – this was super!
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Happy to take you soaring with me…….
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Standing Ovation!!!! Life-changing leaps and flights take many forms. Yours becomes something of a metaphor for all others. Marvelous writing 🙂
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We all take life-changing leaps — great word choice there. Yep – this one was amazing. Glad you enjoyed!
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I tried rock climbing to overcome vertigo. Not a fear of heights, but height and movement. 500 feet clinging to solid rock; no fear (metaphor?). But hang gliding is beyond me. Enjoyed your leap of faith vicariously.
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Interesting. I’ve done a lot of hiking — Bryce Canyon, Half Dome, etc….but once, when it was a path that seemed to go straight up, I just froze. Had to slowly turn around and go back down. But this experience, the air drafts, crossing the sun’s path, pure awe to soar.
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I took the rock climbing lessons to overcome the freezing. Learned to trust the rock and the equipment. Just can’t add motion to the mix.
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Have tried Parasailing and it is way too much fun… that sense of freedom is quite exhilarating.
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That’s exactly it — a sense of freedom and awe. I look at sea gulls soaring now quite differently than I did before this experience!
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Makes me dizzy just to look at the photos, but love them, and love your words.
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Glad you enjoyed! 🙂 Sorry about the dizziness 😦
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Must be such fun to be cruising high up, never mind if one is strapped to a stranger. It is the sense of awe and freedom that counts!
Hank
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Exactly!
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Oh, what a brave, brave girl you are! I can’t image being at such a height. 🙂
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It was truly amazing. Didn’t tell my family until I returned and had done the deed 🙂
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How wonderful – I can imagine the peace and the feelings you must have experienced. Did you ever get to know the man afterwards?
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It was truly wonderful! No — he was a guide who did this with many people. He did say afterwards, that most women screamed in his ear the entire time so it was a pleasure to “ride” with me 🙂
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Oh you make it sound so surreal and lovely. “Let go, let God…” I try, but when it come to things like skydiving, bungee jumping or gliding? That’s a big fat NOPE!
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Well, consider yourself hang-gliding with my words — now you’ve been there and done that! 🙂
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Brave you! I do not think I would have the courage to take that leap of faith. And what other adventures you seem to be having!
Anna :o]
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Rejuvenatement — the perfect time to take those flying leaps! 🙂
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Lillian,
to have the courage to dive – leap in fact – into a new perspective on the appreciate of life
dare I say – you, my dear had this courage in spades – before the leap
but damn, a courageous one you were/are!
I love the candid power of your words here
am:)
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I always liked playing leapfrog as a little girl. 🙂
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What a wonderful flying leap! I am envious.
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it was indeed…
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Looks like you had a great experience! Lovely haibun.
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Glad you enjoyed! 🙂
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You have never been “just you.” You are extra-ordinary, strong, compassionate, talented, loving, able to be an equal to and with any person, no matter what their stature. That is what “just you” has always been!
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Loving you, always!
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Wow! This is absolutely beautiful. And love the thought you shared, about finding yourself.
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Thank you so much Sreesha. So very nice to read your comment here!
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