Last Sunday, I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. On my own free will, I plummeted toward the earth at 120 mph for 45 seconds before my tandem skydiving instructor pulled the parachute that let us peacefully glide to the landing zone.
When I signed up for my first skydiving experience, I was frequently asked “Why?” Why in the world would I pay $200 to drop 10,000 feet out of the sky?
Well… why not?
These two words have been floating around my brain for the past several months, weaving their way into my subconscious until they’ve become my new mantra. Why not? It’s short, simple and appeals to the adventurer in me that longs for a life without fear or limitations.
To me, these two words are all about getting out of my comfort zone. Sure, my stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies when I swung my legs over the edge of the plane and rolled out the door into infinity. But ultimately, my excitement won out. Adrenaline kicked in, and I was flooded with an intense joy that only comes from doing something undeniably crazy.
In October, I’ll be traveling to Germany. For 10 days, I will explore the country in which so much of my ancestral history is rooted. And I’ll be doing it alone.
As a young woman, I am aware of the dangers that come with traveling solo. When I think about the worst that could happen, it scares the heck out of me. But I don’t want to let fear dictate my life. So I’m going to travel to Europe – something I’ve always dreamed of doing. I’ll drink beer, visit castles and eat my weight in schnitzel.
Because… why not?
Warum nicht?
Love,
Meredith
Meredith Metsker 