I have a new obsession…the trapeze! Ever since I saw Carrie Bradshaw do it on a Sex & The City episode  I have wanted to do it. Not to mention I like the rush you get flying through the air…I learned this when I went sky diving for the first time. It was a truly unbelievable experience jumping out of a plane because you can’t be anywhere else than in the moment and I love that feeling.

A few years ago I tried to find the rush again by parasailing in Mexico and instead it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I knew something was off the minute I floated up in the air and felt the wind. I tried to inform them that I wanted to get off but sadly nobody could hear me yelling so I closed my eyes and resorted to making various deals with God hoping he would let me survive. After dangling up there for 10 minutes it was time to land back on the beach. I thought the worst was over…boy was I was wrong.

As I was coming in for the landing, a huge gust of wind blew me towards the hotel, trees, cabana’s and people. Luckily I didn’t hit the building and instead went through the trees. I went through 7 – yes 7 palm trees while coming down. I guess I should be thankful that I didn’t hit the base of the trees and instead went through the palm fronds. Through this experience I did learn a lot about palm fronds- as I whipped through the them I learned how rough they really are. I wondered how this was all going to end for me because it wasn’t looking good.

When I finally did come out of the trees I went straight into the sand head first (actually mouth first because my mouth was wide open with terror) in front of lots of vacationing families and couples. I have never been so embarrassed in my life and for the remaining three days not only did I have to walk around the resort in a bikini with bruises and cuts all over my legs but I had to endure everyone calling me the “palm tree girl”. I even got a high-five from a impressed kid…people were wowed. True story.

After that experience I thought my days of flying through the air were over. That was until I stumbled upon the trapeze school at the Santa Monica Pier a few weeks ago. When I saw it I thought- “Omg that’s what Carrie Bradshaw did on Sex & The City!! Why haven’t I done this yet? This looks safe enough!! It’s perfect!”

So I signed up for a class immediately…feeling pretty pleased with myself. Somehow I even got my mom to agree to join me. Actually it was pretty easy because she thought I said trampoline class not trapeze class. When I corrected her she surprisingly still agreed to try it. So there we were 2 crazy girls at a trapeze class on a windy Monday afternoon.

The seven other people in the class added  so much more to the experience. Everyone cheered everyone else on. Such team spirit! Funny enough, one girl happened to be there with her sister and boyfriend celebrating her 30th birthday! When my mom heard this I literally had to cover her mouth to stop her from shamelessly promoting 365 til 30 (although an hour later she handed out my 365 business cards to everyone while I was in the bathroom).

After a few stretches we were given brief instructions (very brief instructions) and told it was time to jump. I happened to be first on the list to jump- which I decided was a good thing. Less time to focus on worries….so up I went. When I got to the top I thought…why am I doing this? This seems totally insane. But there was no way in hell I was going down any other way than a swinging trapeze.

What was the worst that could happen?? I fall on the net below and break a pinky? Suck it up, Kate! You have jumped out of a plane and survived a Mexico palm tree incident for Christ’s sake! I was sharing all these thoughts and experiences with the instructor as she strapped me in. I couldn’t help myself…it was like I had diarrhea of the mouth and had to share every thought with her. She nodded apathetically (clearly she was not affected by my concerns) and told me to lean out, hang all my toes off the edge and grab the bar with both hands. What a strange feeling that was…so counter intuitive to lean your body off a ledge.

When I got the whistle to jump I finally stopped thinking about everything and just flung myself off. Flying through the air on a trapeze was amazing and I felt like I was in the circus!

I was completely in the moment…out of my head…and in my element. Oh and guess what I did by the end of the class…I nailed a catch!!! A very good lesson in trust indeed.

Trapeze video coming later today!! 

Tags: 365 til, 365 til 30, adventure, fears, fun, goals, Inspiration, Kate McClafferty, Laughter, life, project, trapeze, trust, turning 30