Mid-Air & Mid-Life
Last week, I did something I’ve never done before while visiting Colombia: jump off the side of a mountain and glide back to earth with some ropes, strips of vinyl, plastic, and currents of wind. Paragliding. Why, you ask? Because I thought it would be fun, but I knew there would be something to discover once I left the safety and security of the mountain.
Jumping off mountains should invoke a sense of anxiety. It’s a sign of health and an encouraging reminder that you’re not a psychopath. Right? That’s what I told myself a few minutes before the jump, “Don’t worry, Jordan, this is good.” Jumping off the side of a mountain, even with education and a trained pilot, should still feel scary. Bravery is a characteristic that requires practice and that involves pushing yourself into awkward situations.
When it came time for my flight... or opportunity to fall with style, the crew strapped me in and briefed me on what needed to happen in order to launch properly. The team instructed me to run for the cliff, and under no circumstances was I to stop. The last thing they would need is for someone to stop suddenly at the edge like a cartoon character. The idea is to basically run until you fly off the edge. That’s what I did. Moments later, I looked just ahead and saw clouds. I looked down, and about 1400 feet below me was the mountain where I stood earlier.
I wouldn’t use the word scary to describe the feeling, but I would use the word thrilling.
We discover new things mid-air. Something about yourself that you didn’t know was there. We can also recalibrate our understanding of our own limits. In the best-case scenarios, we can learn that we are capable of much more than we previously thought possible. Metaphorically speaking, I’ve made leaps that have been less-than-successful, but I’ve still learned from those experiences.
It’s my birthday today, and I’m officially in mid-journey. I plan to take more risks this year. This is scary and wonderful. I’m propelled by faith that there’s still much more to learn out there.
Most importantly, I feel called to support and encourage others as they take bold leaps of their own. Witnessing former teammates become Hotel General Managers or Executive Directors has been my greatest honor. Their courage inspires me, and I’m grateful to have helped them push past their limits. If there’s one message I hope to leave, it’s this: take the leap, discover what you’re capable of, and know that you’re not alone on the journey. Let’s keep reaching new heights—together.