Wings

What are you most afraid of?  Well, whatever it is, I’ve learned that your fear will never outweigh your strength.  I was always afraid of what others thought of me.  By letting my fears conquer me, I tied down my own wings.  I prevented myself from being who I was truly meant to be because I wanted the approval of others and was too scared to try new things for fear of looking stupid.

My name is Kaelyn and this is how I flew.

I had turned down an invitation to go dancing with some friends….again.  You’d think that by now, my friends would have just given up asking me to do things since I always said no.  I honestly don’t know how I even had friends.

I rounded a corner and ran straight into an older gentleman.  “Oh I am so sorry!” I said frantically.  Don’t text and walk people, it’s really not a good idea.

“Don’t worry about it.” The older man replied kindly, offering a polite smile.  There was something different about this smile though.  It wasn’t forced, it was genuine.  In the city, you don’t see many genuine people any more.

I walked on my way and passed an outdoor store.  In the window they had a display for a wing suit with the words, “Just Jump.”  Something in my gut made me stop and stare at those two words in the window.  Why didn’t I ever “Just Jump”?  I never let go and did adventurous and brave things.  I was afraid that something would go wrong.  That I would look a fool.

“You know, those two words have really made a difference in my life.” A voice next to me said.

I turned and saw that it was the man I’d run into.  I gave a nervous laugh.  “Not in mine.  Nope.  I am a very safe person.  Those words are foolish really.  People who “Just Jump” will end up embarrassing themselves or getting seriously injured.”  Even as I said it I knew it wasn’t true.

“I’m Richard.” He said, sticking out his wrinkled and worked hand.

“Kaelyn.” I said, shaking his hand.

“I fought in World War II.” He said.  “I’ve seen so many amazing places and things that many people will never get the chance to see.”

“Wow!” I said with true interest.  “What branch of the military were you in when you served?”

“I was a paratrooper.  During training I was told “just jump.”  It was easier said than done.  But when the real thing came and that was my only option, those two words ran through my head and I jumped.”

“Just Jump.” I said out loud, rolling the words around on my tongue.

Richard nodded.  “Just Jump.” He repeated.

“But I’ll fall.” I said.

Richard shook his head then said something that changed my life forever, “But darling, what if you fly?”

Indeed, what if I flew?  There was only one way to find out.  In that moment, my wings were released from the fear that I had been entrapping them with.  It no longer mattered what others thought of me, I didn’t need their acceptance to be happy or successful.  I was who I was, and those who accepted that would matter, and those that didn’t wouldn’t be important.

“But Darling, What If You Fly?”