I stood on a cliff in the Philippines about nine meters (or about thirty feet for my States peeps) above a beautiful blue pool fed by tumbling waterfalls and surrounded by calling birds and lush green. All I had to do was take a running leap to ensure I clear the rocks below.
Let me rewrite that.
All I had to do was override my internal programming screaming at me about how bad of an idea it was to apply velocity to my meat suit that certainly wouldn’t survive a collision with the jagged, firmly placed death-stones at the base of the perfectly good cliff I was standing on. My heart was pounding in my chest, desperately trying to get my attention, and hands shook while my boys stood watching. Seriously, there was no backing down. I felt like my feet had traded in the pair of water-socks (what a dumb ass name) I was wearing for cinderblocks. Everything was in slow motion, I awkwardly forced my legs to “run” forward and at the last minute, I leapt. Jumped? Flung my mass out into open air hopefully far enough to not die? The silver lining being if I did die, I wouldn’t have to suffer through the humiliation of the gruesome ending.
It’s Monday, May 3, and in many ways I just flung myself out there again. Today, I announced on several social media platforms the fact I’ve written a book. I spent a lot of time trying to get all of the pieces together over the last couple of months to simply make this one jump possible. A good friend of my designed a beautiful cover, I’ve worked on a website, and my son put together a fantastic commercial for me to share. Every one of these steps inched me closer and closer to the edge.
And much like the moment I stood on the cliff in the Philippines, my boys have been watching me. They’ve registered my progress on the book, knew when I finished it, and have asked when I’m going to publish it. For the longest time, my answers were vague and elusive. Eventually, the question turned into, “Are you ever going to publish it?” I knew I had to jump or what would I be showing them? Pour your heart into something and then set that shit on the shelf. No, I had to jump, because I’m in front of them in line.
The air whipped around me as I plummeted to the welcoming blue water below, my family watching from above, my friends below, and strangers everywhere. I plunged into the water, arms straight at my side as instructed, and resurfaced moments later. It was exhilarating. I watched as each of the boys in turn leapt after me, Harrison going for a flip which scared the ever living shit out of us. And I suppose that’s another thing. As a dad, I don’t just want my kids to do what I did, I want them to make it their own and make it even better.
Yeah, I want to get my book out to readers. I want them to enjoy and relax on a trip, a summer day, at night as they lay in bed. I want them to wonder who they truly are, their own potential. And I want my boys to dream of possibilities with their own lives, to leap off cliffs, and take risks.
I hope they will enjoy the Six as much as you might.
Later.
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