The Mac Dad'll Make ya Jump Jump!

I've been extremely negligent about writing these last few months, but I've really had nothing to say travel-wise as I've been cooped up, recovering from surgery (new spring-time adventures are on the horizon, my friends!)

However, I was listening to the Nerdist Podcast over the weekend and a few un-nerdy, travel topics peaked my interest.

Chris Hardwick, the host of Nerdist and a person who I find to be fucking hilarious, was interviewing Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow on Game of Thrones.  They were on the topic of GoT film locations and what it's like to be shooting a scene in Iceland, walking backwards, in a blizzard, on the edge of a 500 ft cliff.  Chris asked Kit if he was ever afraid of falling off the cliff, to which Kit responded that he has more a fear of jumping off the cliff.

I find this absolutely fascinating...mainly because I'm not the only weirdo who feels like this.

I've never had a fear of heights.  There's something about standing on the edge of a cliff or a mountain that's completely exhilarating.  I've also never been afraid of falling if you get too close to the edge.  But I have had that feeling of just wanting to jump from it...(not at all in a suicidal manner). 

The Cliffs of Moher

In particular, I'm thinking of trips my to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, or driving over steep mountain passes in the Rockies (for my fellow Coloradans, driving over Monarch Pass between September through May...yikes!).  Surely, you would more than likely die if you jumped, or veered your car off the side of the mountain, but there's still this weird curiosity of what would happen...

A jump that would surely bludgeon you

A loooong way down!

I've never brought this topic up because I never wanted people to assume I was suicidal, when I'm 100% NOT (I like living - please read that in the voice of Tyrion Lannister).  But, now that I know I'm not the only one who feels like this...what is it?  What part of our brain gives us this urge to do something that would surely either cause us a tremendous deal of pain or potentially kill us?  Is it really some crazy mortality obsession within ourselves, or does it have to do with the fragility of life?  Over the past two years, I've become all too aware of how fragile our bodies are.  One misstep can change your life a little, or even drastically - physically and mentally.

I find it endlessly interesting.

This "fear of jumping", I believe, can also be applied to our lives in general.  I find many people, myself included, deny themselves a full life because of a fear of what would happen if they took that plunge.  (I actually wrote a blog on how fear can keep people from traveling.  Read it here.) 

Now, I'm not encouraging you to jump of an insane cliff or drive off of the side of a mountain if you get that urge, but try something new if you have that feeling.  Travel to a new place - be it a city in your home state that you've never been to or a city in a different country.  Try the local food, at least once.  You might like it, and if you don't, at least now you know.  Get up and dance if a song is making you tap your toes!  Don't let a fear of jumping take over your life...just don't let it go so far as to actually jump off a cliff ;)

I went beyond the point.  Because that's how I roll.

Listen to the full Nerdist Postcast here.

Happy Trails!

P.S. The fear of jumping is like wiggity wiggity wiggity whack.