Depending on how long you’ve known me you may know that I tend to be afraid of just about everything. Above all, I have a huge fear of not being in control of my environment. The thought of not being able to keep my feet on the ground is terrifying.
One thing that I am not afraid of is showing gratitude by thanking those around me for the ways that they have impacted my life.
I have a very long list of people that I need to thank but today I want to give a very sincere, heartfelt and public thank you to the first person to help me sprout “wings”. This thank you is long overdue and I can’t think of a better day to express gratitude to someone than on their birthday.
I believe the conversation went something like this:
Jason: “Have you ever been skydiving?”
Nicole: “NO WAY!!! I’d love to, and it is on my bucket list but having muscular dystrophy puts that idea to rest - that will never happen because I would definitely break my legs!”
Jason: You would love it! You would be fine! You should try it sometime.”
Nicole: “Not a chance. I’m not doing it!”
We hung up the phone a few minutes later and after an hour or so passed, I found myself on the phone booking the jump.
I called Jason back:
Nicole: “We are booked at Skydive Space Center. Let’s do this!”
Jason: “WE??”
Nicole: “Yes, we are both going. I think I’ve lost my mind, but we are doing this! Oh, and by the way, I chose the highest jump allowed - 18,000 feet!”
The big day arrived. I hadn’t known Jason for very long so I tried to hide my fear, but I am confident that he saw right through me. I was petrified.
We got to the Skydive Space Center and I was literally shaking. I did all that I could to stall going through the front door.
We finally went inside and signed our lives away. We suited up and watched as others loaded in the plane, took off and landed safely on the ground.
I was still considering backing out but before I could give it much thought, we were walking out onto the runway. It suddenly hit me that all of this time I was worried about landing but I had never considered how I was going to pull this off logistically. Getting up a set of steps that were on wheels and not attached to the plane, steps with no railings?!?! No one told me this was going to happen (or maybe they did and I was too consumed with splattering on the ground upon landing). Even more so than the steps, walking towards the plane with the engines roaring and air blasting towards us at what felt like warp speed - that wasn’t even something I had attempted to coordinate in my mind. If you’ve never experienced this, it isn’t easy! I would imagine even an able-bodied person has a hard time walking towards what feels like category 5 hurricane winds coming straight at you. We made it but just getting on the plane was a task in and of itself.
Jason was there every step of the way. He offered encouraging words and did all that he could to distract me from my own thoughts. Then he dropped a bomb on me - I was going to be the first to jump; he had to make sure I got out of the plane safely. I realize now that he knew what I was thinking all along – if he jumped first then I could chicken out and stay on the plane. He knew if I didn’t go before him, I wasn’t going to jump at all. He stepped up in a huge way that day not because he felt he needed to but because that is the kind of person that Jason is.
All too often we forget that the way we treat others is a direct reflection of who we are. Friends like Jason don’t come around very often. Regardless of his own fears, he stood beside me and did all that he could to help me cross skydiving off of my bucket list. He did not go with me because he wanted to conduct a noble act or be a hero, he was there because that is the kind of friend that Jason is. He shows up. He stands beside his friends. He celebrates in times of joy and comforts in times of fear. He continuously puts his friends needs ahead of his own and his compassion for his friends is unconditional. He is fiercely loyal. Jason can hold space for others, to listen with empathy and offer sound advice. All of these great qualities echo the size of his heart.
It is so rare to encounter people like Jason. His friendship thoroughly demonstrates the extraordinary person that he is. Jason is the kind of friend that will bend over backward and turn himself inside out to help others. He is kind. He is selfless. He is a real friend.
Jason, thank you for being the first person to help me sprout “wings". I am eternally grateful for your friendship. Wishing you a very happy birthday but most of all a year of amazing experiences, success and the kind of joy and confidence that you have given me and others.