Life is a Leap into the Unknown

by Kimberly Harper (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown New Zealand

Life is a Leap into the Unknown I’m not sure that letting my daughter choose the extreme tour option was my best idea; anything that starts with “feel the adrenaline” deserves a second thought. The glow worms in Waitomo Caves was a “must see” in New Zealand and this was the way she wanted to do it; abseiling, zip-lining in the dark, leaping into water and climbing up waterfalls. This was just one more leap into the unknown. I’d made a much bigger leap months before. After getting geared up, practicing our skills, and listening to the safety instructions, I was the third one to descend into the cave. As each person stepped onto the platform, we hooked in our safety lines and waited in a single file line behind a rope barrier. The only people across the barrier were our guide, Scuba, and the person getting ready to abseil into the cave. As we waited for the person descending to reach the bottom, Scuba would engage the next person in line in conversation. While I do believe he enjoyed getting to know everyone, I suspect his primary agenda was to keep the person getting ready to descend distracted and calm. I listened in as he and my daughter discussed one of her greatest loves – animals. When it was my turn to go to the other side of the barrier, he asked me what my job was, generally an easy topic for conversation. I told him I was currently unemployed as I had quit my job and sold my home to travel the world with my daughter. That got his attention. It gets most folks’ attention, but I could tell that it resonated with him at a deeper level than most people I share that information with. He talked about his belief in "making memories, not money" and asked a few more questions about where we'd traveled so far and how things were going. Then it was my time to begin my 110-foot descent into the cave. Once at the bottom and safely seated on a boulder out of the way, I turned off my headlamp and got my first glimpse of the glow worms we had come to see. They did not disappoint! After everyone safely descended, we moved on to the next leap - zip-lining through the dark. That one was okay. It was the next “leap” that gave me pause, literally leaping off a ledge into the water below. I’m not really sure what the basis for my hesitations was. I know how to swim. I was certain the water was deep enough. My logical brain assured me that insurance companies would not allow unsafe activities. Other people did it successfully before me. Still, I was hesitant. I was offered the option of climbing down a ladder into the water, but that’s not why I am here. I am here to confirm that I am strong and adventurous and brave. I am here to see glow worms! I am here to leap and so I did. Our journey through the cave continued to an area where the glow worms were abundant. As we floated in the water in space so dark nothing was visible except the glow from the worms, we listened to our guide’s Maori greeting and prayer. He spoke about the fragility of life and the importance of living fully. Months ago, I made a major leap into the unknown and my daughter and I began an amazing journey into the world. New Zealand was our eighth country and Waitomo Caves was one of our most adventurous leaps so far. After leaving the cave, Scuba engaged me in conversation. He was curious where my daughter and I were headed next and what I thought I might do for work when our traveling was done. He commented on what a great opportunity world traveling was and complimented the relationship he'd observed between me and my daughter. He encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing. So many positives came out of this leap, most importantly, being seen and appreciated for the path we are taking. My daughter and I are going to keep leaping!