base jumping

 Just watched a program on BBC at my Hotel in Macau. It was about a world class ER surgeon that thrives on extreme sports. They started talking about base jumping – which is free falling from a fixed object. The surgeon said that base jumping is more thrilling than skydiving because when you skydive its all just air, but when you jump from a cliff or building you have a reference point for how fast you are going. The BBC reporter questioned him, “Why do you do these things? Don’t you realize you could get injured?”

The surgeon replied “…or die? It’s exactly because of those reasons that I do it. Anyone who says they have ‘no fear’ is lying. I want to feel fear. For me it’s like something inside of you that lets you know you’re alive. Of course you have to be very confident and make sure you cover all the possible pitfalls. I feel like it has helped me be a better surgeon. You have to make life and death split second decisions. Extreme sports have made me more decisive and confident in making choices.”

I guess the reason I felt compelled to share this is because I feel a connection to this surgeon base jumper. I feel that when you put your life on the line and realize your own mortality you don’t stress out about trivial things. You realize that it’s not worth it to put someone down.. or you realize that it’s not worth it to do anything less than what makes you happy.

That fear pushes you out of your shell or comfort zone and gives you a connection with all things that are living.. because you are potentially on the threshold of being in the other category. I really think the more encounters people have with extreme situation / life and death situations the more you can become a carefree person.. like… “hey, im alive and im happy about that!”