Fun fact, I have a slight fear of heights. I love to fly and don’t mind going up to the 43rd floor in one of the buildings on our campus, but what separates those from the Capilano Suspension Bridge is that both of those are enclosed. I feel pretty darn safe enclosed in an airplane and in an elevator. That was not the case for the suspension bridge I visited in Vancouver while on vacation. We were suspended about 230 feet above the river on a bridge that was just wide enough to fit two people side to side. It was hella wobbly, in fact there was even a sign that said no running, jumping, etc. Yes it’s an attraction, but someone can seriously get hurt or die if there’s too much horseplay.
I took a different approach than most people when it came to crossing the bridge. I took slow and steady steps and held onto the railing for dear life, and it wasn’t until I was about halfway across the bridge that it hit me. Crossing that bridge was kind of symbolic of what was going on in my life at the moment.
The attraction boasts over 80,000 visitors annually and one of the main reasons they come is to cross that wobbly bridge. Of course there’s a more stable cliff walk and even a tree house on the property, but I feel like the main attraction is the suspension bridge. The same can be said about the change in my life. This is something people do daily, it’s nothing new and I shouldn’t be afraid because what I’m feeling was probably felt by many before and will be felt by many after me. I just have to step out on faith and know that my maker wouldn’t put this desire in my heart without giving me the tools to accomplish it.
Like the bridge, things might be shaky at first but there’s always that railing to hold onto and once I’ve put myself out there there’s no going back. I can’t get halfway and decide that I want to turn back around now, I’ve come too far. There are great things on the other side too! The suspension bridge was just the beginning of what the park had to offer. In fact, we had to cross that to get to every other attraction, and I feel like that’s what this next move for me will be. It’s the start of something great and it’ll be a wonderful new chapter in my life.
It really helped that I crossed the bridge with two awesome ladies. They were super encouraging and loving and let me go at my own pace. They were my support system. I have an equally supportive system in the rest of my life too. I’ve surrounded myself with people who keep it real with me, but support me in my decisions. Their unwavering love and cheers have gotten me through some tough times and I know that I’m lucky to have them on my team.
I will admit that at first I was more concerned about just making it across the bridge, but when I got about a third of the way across I was reminded to look up and enjoy the view. We were 230 feet up in the air surrounded by so much beautiful greenery and a gorgeous river beneath us. The same goes in life. I can’t be so focused on the end result that I don’t stop and smell the roses every now and then. I have to remind myself to enjoy the small things in life like brunch with my girls, spending a weekend engrossed in a good book or even taking a day off just because. Mental health days, for the win.
I love being reminded that I’m on the right path, even if it’s suspended above a river.