🌸 I jumped off a plane, and the weirdest thing happened

📚 story

When they open the door 4000m above the ground, my stomach drops.

In a few seconds, it’s my turn to jump.

I’ve done it 6 times already this week, but it’s the 1st time I’m doing it alone.

I steady myself as I slide to the door, fingers gripping the edge of the plane. The wind is loud, but somehow my breath feels louder.

He pats me on the shoulder, smiles, and says:

“Now!”

The adrenaline rushes. It’s too late to think. I push myself off the plane, jump… and backflip.

For a few seconds, I’m lost — tumbling, falling at 200km/h.

I’m not stable. I’m spinning.

Maybe the backflip wasn’t the smartest choice. I could have stuck to something I knew.

But I know the drill, I can’t afford to panic.

Time’s precious.

Breathe.

I push my hips forward, look back, and fall into position: chin up, back arched, legs tight, arms loose.

I’m floating now — weightless, steady.

That’s the key: no matter what you do, as long as you remember these 4 things, you’ll always find your stability.

Sunny horizon in front of me, I can feel myself smiling.

3000m

I have time to play: flipping, turning, speeding. I feel lighter than I ever have. And I can’t believe it’s me — the girl who’s scared of heights — doing this.

1700m

I reach for the handle on my back, pull, and throw. My parachute bursts open.

I’m sucked back up. It’s silent.

Suddenly, I’m flying.

300m

Skydiving is the easy part.

The twist? The landing.

I focus on my checklist: arms high, clear path, wind in my face. I hold still.

2m

The ground is right there. Too close. My brain panics: You’re about to crash, dude! Do something!

That’s my cue. I pull down with all my strength.

0m

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until both my feet —and my ass— hit the ground, safe and sound.

I’m lying on the ground, breathless, laughing. My body’s buzzing, my brain’s a mess — pride, fear, excitement, fatigue — all tangled together.

It’s a unique feeling: falling at 200km/h. It makes you realize, very quickly, that the only person you can count on is yourself.

And weirdly… that’s the best part.

📝 lesson

The truth is, the months leading up to this jump were rough.

Between my company, the wedding, and a hundred other things, I didn’t feel in control of… well, anything.

I had panic attacks. I lost sleep.

I ended up in a place where every day felt like free-fall — but without the horizon or the parachute.

Up there in the sky, I realized something: free-fall isn’t the enemy.

If you know what to hold on to, you can find stability in the middle of it.

And you can even enjoy it.

That day taught me the three things that will always bring me back to stability, in the air and life:

1. Find your stable position.

   In the air: chin up, hips forward, legs tight, arms loose.

   In life: your go-to grounding habit, routine, or mindset.

2. Trust your checklist.

   When panic hits, process beats inspiration every time.

3. Enjoy the view.

   Even in chaos, there’s something worth noticing.

Learn to dance on a thin line, grounded by a few things you trust, in the midst of chaos.

💭 questions

• What’s your “stable position” — the thing you turn to when life feels out of control?

• Do you have a simple checklist or process that helps you through stressful moments?

• When was the last time you paused to enjoy the ride instead of rushing to the landing?

• If everything feels messy right now, what’s one thing that can help you feel okay?

Until next time: embrace the ride, and enjoy the mess!
Love always,
Flora 🌸