I have many fears! One of them is Heights.. I am absolutely TERRIFIED of heights. While in the Dominican Republic I conquered zip lining! I am so proud of myself. It all started when I was looking at the excursions and I saw "Monkey Jungle." Monkeys are my absolute favorite animal of all time!! So, of course, I wanted to go play with the monkeys!! As far as I knew the only way I could do that was to go through a zip lining adventure (or, at least this is what I was told). When it came down to booking this excursion I was having mini panic attacks because I realized what I was going to do! This terrified me. Now, I'm terrible at math and was told that 300 meters (which was the highest height of the zip line) was only about 100 feet. I was dumb enough to believe it and didn't have the cell service to google it! Turns out 300 meters is ALMOST 1000 feet!!!!!! If i knew this going in though, there's no way in hell I would do it and I just wouldn't go see the Monkeys. I woke up the morning of the excursion and was freaking out so I was very quiet. I was quiet on the whole ride there. We then had to fill out a waiver (always scary!) and one section asked if you had any health issues so I marked down anxiety, because god-forbid I had a panic attack while doing the zip line. Now, we get the the Zip line park and I'm okay but freaking out inside my head and just keep saying to my boyfriend "I don't think I can do this," "I don't want to do this" and he just keeps saying "you'll be okay", "you'll be okay!" Next I hear, "STEPHANIE?!" and one of the instructors is calling me over to the side to speak to find out about my Anxiety. Immediately I started to cry (that's what I do when I'm nervous and start talking about it) and he told me I would be fine, and that I could do it and they would give me a guide. The guide is someone who latches on the zip line right behind you and holds onto your strap and they control the zip line. They even told me they wouldn't charge me for this because of how terrified I was. This was a little comforting. So, I agree. I had to conquer this fear or I WOULD regret it. Still crying, still freaking out they are putting on my harness. Now, it's time..oh boy..we start hiking a little up to the first Zip line (there are 7!) and now i'm calming down a little bit and we get to the steps to the first platform… "STEPHANIE!" I look up and say, "YEAH?"… "YOUR FIRST!".. Oh crap!! okay.. I take a deep breathe..walk up the steps.. go around everybody..they latch me in..tell me to sit into the harness, and tell me to sit more.. I look back to my guide and say "you're attached to me right?" … wanted to make sure i wasn't being tricked.. I hold on.. and WE'RE OFF!!! feet up.. and land…! It was actually pretty cool..and FUN! ready to do the next one.. and we go.. I made it through all seven and couldn't believe it!! After the 2nd one we had to wait a little for everyone else to finish to hike up to the next one.. when my boyfriend came down he jumped off and hugged me and said "I'm so proud of you!" Of course this made me feel AWESOME!! Before the last zip line we had to do a 57 foot drop into a cave.. oh boy! but, i'm okay because now my adrenaline is going and I'm ready to keep moving forward. I ask, "Is someone attached to me for this one too?" being I was now getting a little nervous…"No, you're not VIP for this one!".. UH OH!!!!!!!!!! I get attached, I sit down, and he says on the count of 3 You're going down.. Okay…I take a deep breath… 1 …2…PUSH! (he lied to me!) But, better off because if he said 3 I would have probably got scared and grabbed the ledge or yelled "NO!" or something. I DID IT!!!!!! When I finished I felt so amazing!! I conquered a fear!! And, it was an absolutely Amazing experience!! First thing I said to my boyfriend though, "That wasn't only 100 feet!" and he laughed… Then it was time to see the Monkeys… Such an AMAZING day and experience. I couldn't Thank the guides enough for all their help & support and being so comforting.. I just had to keep repeating "Stop it!" to myself (check out my "stop it" article) and get out of my own head and I was okay! Next time you're in the Dominican Republic.. DO IT! https://www.facebook.com/MonkeyJungleDR/timeline |