Being afraid of heights has always been my Achilles Heel .
Being so high and looking down greatly terrifies me...it's that feeling of not being enclosed in safety and being so vulnerable to the elements that petrifies me. I don't think having this kind of feeling you would be surprised when I say that I hate roller coasters. The worst feeling for me is the freefall of a drop.
Scaling the pyramids in Palenque (Mexico), Tulum (Mexico), Chichen Itza (Mexico) & Tikal (Guatemala), I could have sworn I had moments of what could only resemble a panic attack. Once I steadfastly reached the top only to turn around and frantically say to myself, HELP, there's only one way down!!! In each of these cases I was certain that upon looking down I was going to truly be dead meat!! Aieyo! While on the top of Temple II in gorgeous Tikal National Park (Guatemala), I actually entertained the idea that a helicopter is going to have to get me down because I can't do it!!! Well, here it is: the remedy to solve all my dilemma? Go down backwards! Haha! Besides not being able to really have a visual picture of what I was doing, as I carefully maneuvered each of the steps down, I had to make haste with the placement of my hands as the blazing heat of the sun hitting off the stones gave off heat like that of a burning stovetop! Ouch!
Surprisingly, in 2007 I did make the summit of Uhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895m! This accomplishment has been the most special physical feat in my life. Although widely known as the world's most climbable mountain, there were definitely some tricky parts to the climb and hike that truly tested my courage to meet my fear of heights straight in the eyeballs!
In recent years, my grade 5 students have regularly gone rock climbing before heading into the Christmas break. As a result of this fun field trip with the kids, I took a risk a few years back and started to give rock climbing a chance. I must confess that I do enjoy the challenges that this activity presents. However, the fear is still very much there and I try different strategies to allow me to climb and challenge my body yet put into place preventative actions such as not looking down to help alleviate my fears.
It is true when they say mind over matter...when I psychologically prepare to climb, I'm calm, focused and determined as opposed to feeling anxious while being fixated on my fear...
The climbing continues and I'm glad for it....Look your fears right in the eyeballs....
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