Life is Short

It was more than 20 years ago when I decided that I wanted to fly. I'm not sure what put that bee in my bonnet but there it was and there it would stay. I wanted to fly in a hot air balloon. I wanted to sail above the earth in a wicker basket.
I don't like calling it a bucket list but for lack of a better term... this was the first item on it.

#1 fly in a hot air balloon
#2 ...
#3 ...
#4 ...

Over time I started to check off those items. It matters little what they were, what matters is that I was doing what I wanted, living fully, gathering up experiences, finding my bliss.

But that first item remained elusive.

I live in a town with an annual balloon festival. I've watched the balloons go up over and over. I've awakened at dawn to see them sailing outside my bedroom window. I've taken care of my friends children so they could go up. My children have had the opportunity to crew a balloon and fly and I even dated a balloon pilot (briefly).

But my feet stayed planted on the ground.

One day, as I wandered the balloon festival by myself, I stopped to ask a question.  All the other balloon baskets were square, why was this one triangle shaped? I was pressed into service, can you do this? Can you hold this? Can you turn this off?

Sure I can.

Have you ever flown?  No?  Well hop in!

Really? Me? Now?

I've been holding on to this dream for over 20 years. I wasn't ready. I didn't have time to get excited or get someone to take pictures or to post about it on Facebook.

Hop in!

The balloon lifted, softly, gently. We floated higher. It was what I've always wanted and it was nice.

Yes, nice. Certainly not something that would pull me out of bed at dawn over and over. It has been years of waiting for this moment and it was just nice. What a let down. All these years of anticipation for something that was merely pleasant. Check it off the list and move on.

But not every experience is merely nice.  Sometimes, the most unexpected thing will cause your heart to leap, bring joy where none was expected.  For me, this was sailing. I've never once thought of sailing, never considered it, certainly didn't put it on the list.  Yet, the day came when I landed on a sail boat in the midst of the bright blue ocean.

This didn't excite me. It was just another day.  But it quickly turned from just another day to the most incredible experience of my life. I love the sea.  I love the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, the boat rocking under my feet.


The ocean thrills my soul. For a day on the ocean I would leap out of bed at 5 am, any day, every day. I will hoist the sails and point the bow into the wind. I'll steer around the lobster pots while I listen to the cry of the gulls. This is my heaven on earth.

I don't think it matters what it is that makes you leap out of bed in the morning, as long as someday you find something that brings you that kind of joy. If I hadn't gone up in that balloon I would have wondered for the rest of my life. If I hadn't gone along with my friend when she wanted to sail, I never would have known where my bliss was waiting.

This is what I was looking for when that balloon lifted into the sky. This is what I was looking for when I zip-lined down a mountain,  when I went white water kayaking, when I went para-sailing and when I set off on that stand up paddle board.

I am greedy.  I want to find more of those things that thrill my soul.  I want to leap out of bed every day wondering what I'll find today.  I know I'll experience many things before I find that one that I just can't live without.  That's okay.  I'll just keep living fully and gathering up experiences.  Life is too short to let any opportunity pass by.  You never know, today might be the day  This experience might just be THE ONE.  What have you got to lose?

Hop in!