Date: 2009

Have you ever felt that the world no longer exists? You are all alone and you have no more baggage or worries to tear you down? Did you ever dream of flying while nothing is holding you except your will and desire of freedom? Have you ever felt that the time has frozen and those two minutes of exhilarating sensation are equal to a lifetime of living? Have you ever experienced the purest form of happiness for a moment of the out-of-worldiness and its long lasting effect that stretches to days…weeks….and maybe months? Did you ever believe in your heart that you can do anything in this world since you were brave enough to take this one step toward a fearless life? Have you ever felt that you OWN this world? That you were suddenly on the top of it? And that everything else seems so trivial once you let go?

Well, I have !

In 2009, I was in a trip to Spain where I took my first flying lesson on the back of a 172 Cessna airplane. While flying the plane, looking at the water below me and mountains around; I was thinking…wouldn’t be great if I can see all of that without the interruption of the plane wings and body? I imagined my body floating peacefully in the air while I’m observing God's given nature. Though I loved my plane-flying-experience; I couldn’t forget my ignited desire that day for a total body freedom.

I came back from that trip and I started looking for the only obvious option I had, a sky diving center. Not long after, I found one in Umm Al Quwain but with my descending luck back then; first the plane broke down and a while after the school closed. I kept looking for other options till I came across “Dubai Sky Diving center and school” in Al Ain air show… I finally found what I’m looking for!

The Big Day, My First Jump.

I woke up in the morning feeling butterflies in my tummy. I wasn’t scared but I was excited. I made sure that I have a healthy heavy breakfast because I wasn’t planning to eat anything else till I finish my jump (first-time jumper instinct: no food so I don’t feel sick up there). Everything was as usual till I had another first experience early that day, my first car accident! Yup, I had an accident and that was enough to make me in a grumpy mood and change my mind about my plans that day. But did it? Hell no! I was too excited to delay that jump any longer.

It was around 2:00 pm when my friend –who I dragged into this- picked me up from home and we drove toward palm jumiera till we reached the location of the skydive center. We couldn’t be excited more as during that drive, we were laughing in a nervous way, singing, chatting out lowed without listening to each other talk. Were we scared!? No! We were excited for the unknown!

Tandem Jumps.

Because it was our first time, we had to jump tandem (with a dive master). We sat down waiting for the plane to come back from a previous jump and started to talk to people around. Everyone was simply awesome, everyone spoke the same mind-language we spoke, people were adrenaline junkies and they kept encouraging us and cheering us up. I sat observing the sweet receptionist writing my name on the white board behind her with my instructor name in-front of it. It was only moments after that she called my name in the speaker, that’s when everything became a reality…I’m going to jump off a plane!

My instructor name was Christina, an American girl whose first greeting sentence was: hi, I’m Christina and this is my first jump! I knew she was kidding, but really? Do you really want to scare a first-time jumper? I freaked out for a fraction of a second. Christina was nice and I soon felt I’m in good hands and there is nothing to worry about – not that I was.

After I was ready and all geared up, we headed toward the bright yellow plane that would takes us in a few minutes to a 13000 ft height and come back without us. We were 8 people on the plane, my friend and I, the two instructors, two photographers and two professional jumpers. As the plane went higher; the air – coming from the open door- kept getting cooler regardless the hot weather in Dubai..how exciting!

When we reached the aimed height, everyone jumped leaving a few seconds in between and because I was at the back of the plane; I was the last one to jump.

I Did Fly.. I Did Touch the Sky.

And the moment came, after I was securely hooked to my instructor; we started moving toward the door and as I put my feet on the outside step, I fell into a total peace of mind looking down at the world below me and then pushing my head to the back – as instructed – and we jumped!

Everything in my life became so small at that point of time, I was flying! I can feel the wind on my face, I look around in a 360 degrees view, the sky, the horizon, the incredible beauty of the world, right there with no obstructions. I was part of that sky.

Free-falling gives such a stupendous sense of freedom, it took 60 seconds before we open the parachute and during that time; I was focused on nothing but the sky. All the life distractions disappeared, no room of stray thoughts or worries. It was almost like a holy experience, I felt mentally and physically cleansed.

When the parachute opened, it felt like a glider slicing through the sky. We flew slowly and smoothly and then fast and wild. And in a matter of seconds we safely and softly landed on earth.

I Can Do Anything.

Going back, stepping out of the door of a flying airplane takes a lot of mind control to go against what you have been taught about danger since one was a child. You realize that it is ok to step out to the unknown, take chances in life and experience the true meaning of living.

You develop confidence in yourself and an incredible sense of accomplishment. Knowing you met your fear, took control, and pushed yourself to take that step. A sensation that flows over into other parts of your life.

To understand the beauty, the freedom, and the rush of this experience; you have to be there and you have to try it. The sky is yours, so what’s stopping you?

#skydiving #dubai