The Power to Act

There are times when you least expect it, that you find out that all of the work that you’ve been doing is starting to pay off. I had one of those experiences on the last full day of our Berkshire vacation. We spent a fun week with our children and grand children, filled with outdoor activities circled around the pool and under umbrellas; that is until my step son came in from an early morning walk with a glint of mischief in his eyes, a discovery, and a challenge. He found the ‘Adventure Rope’s Obstacle Course,’ and it changed forever how I hold myself.

This is the second year that we’ve vacationed at Bentley Brook, nestled at the base of Jiminy Peak ski resort; that is redefining itself into a summer adventure destination. They’ve installed two mountain toboggan slides with deep vertical slopes and sharp banks to excite the roller-coaster set, and a group swing that makes a 360 degree circle. Last year I stood in line with a bunch of intrepid teenagers to experience their latest addition, a giant swing structure with tension cords hooked to a harness set over a trampoline. My goal was to go high enough so that I could do three flips; and with sheer determination and colossal effort, I did it. My flips looked like dense dark molasses slowly making its way around a spoon. I was given points for good form, but major deductions for the lack of vibrancy. Five minutes into the experience, I declared ‘uncle’ and forfeited the remaining five minutes allotted for the experience. I was proud of having tackled the monster; two years prior I would not get on a dance floor unless there were four other couples on it! There was progress. As I walked away happy with my chin high, my body felt like pink Jell-O quivering in the sun light. The tension and the physical exertion created a vortex that drained my energy like a whole in the radiator. Little did I know then how far I would go in one more year?

This year Barry, my step-son, spied a new attraction—the ‘Adventure Rope’s Obstacle Course.’ Since it is always more fun to share an experience, he came through the door looking for a recruit. His wife gave him a look that defied any verbalization and unequivocally slammed that door closed. Bruce, my husband, instead of declining the challenge, parried with a deft deflection, suggesting an alternative participant—me. I do have a neat step-son and there are not a lot of opportunities for us to have one-on-one time, so I agreed. I did the trampoline and slides last year and lived. How hard could it really be? I changed into exercise clothing, donning my Adidas sneakers, baseball cap, sunglasses, sun screen, a bottle of water, and we departed our air conditioned condo for the base of the mountain which was the center of all summer activities.

The ‘Adventure Rope’s Obstacle Course’ is a series of four elevated rope paths constructed below a canopy of trees on the lower of the ski slopes. Height junkies progress the rope challenges from easiest to hardest, which range from 12 feet in the air at level one to 35 feet for level four. Each level was comprised of five different obstacles. There is a complex series of obstacles – ladders, ropes bridges, zip lines, cargo nets, stairs and bridges made of hanging lumber that I confronted along the way. All of the courses are self-guided. To prevent falls, an intricate set of harness, safety lanyard and belay lines secure each person. A rescue team is also trained to retrieve anyone who gets stuck or slips off and becomes suspended in their safety harness. The difficulty of each challenge increases as you moved from level one to level four; which was fortunately not open yet.

We bought our tickets and settled on a 3:00 PM start time. After signing a standard document waiving our right to sue the organization, we were fitted into my new friends, a belay harness and heavy canvas gloves; both of which became an intimate part of my survival equipment. The man who fitted me for my harness (Bill) was the only person of the AARP generation around. All the other employees were in their early or mid twenties. His startled expression moved to a warm smile as he laboriously hooked and then re-adjusted every belt and line of my harness. The sureness of his actions and the geniality of his words worked their magic; a perfect tonic to squelch any last moment jitters.

As Barry and I ascended the stairs to our first elevated rope path, I looked out at the varying heights and obstacles laid out all around me, and remembered that the only thing that could get hurt was my pride. None the less, my old acquaintances doubt and fear joined me on the platform; but only fleetingly. To create time to calm myself, I asked Barry to go first so that I could watch his technique and take some deep slow breaths. Barry nimbly glided his 250 lb frame across the high wire inspiring me. If he could do it, certainly I could. Taking a few more slow deep breaths, I tentatively began to slide out onto, and then across, the 12 foot high wire; holding tightly to the cable above me, I scooted across with ease. I was hooked! This was great fun and I thought ‘let the games begin!’

I was half way through the second level when the question of the day arose – Who is this woman calmly making her way across this hanging lumber bridge? I don’t think I’ve ever experienced her? I was serene and centered, poised and thoughtful, steady on my feet and unafraid of the twenty foot heights. Paradoxically I was both exhilarated and I was totally grounded in the air. By level three the difficulty of the obstacles and the height of the playing field had more than doubled. On the first obstacle I had to retrace my steps across a trapeze line because my lanyard lines were threaded under the lines I had to cross over. Fun changed to challenge; and I kept on moving. Halfway through level three, I knew that I was in over my head. I completed the first two obstacles. The third obstacle required that I walk across the ravine on a series of u shaped ropes hanging from parallel lines high above me and then haul myself up onto a perch six feet above me. Even if I had the strength to cross the bridge, there was no way that I had enough upper body strength to haul myself up to a perch above me. With the grace of God and my belay line, I traversed across the distance and hauled my tired butt up onto the perch; and I had hit the proverbial wall. Instead of pushing ahead, I assessed my options and opted to take the zip line down to the safety of the ground where I cheered Barry on as he finished the race.

I would have loved to finish level three; but there is always next year! With age comes wisdom of knowing when the challenge in front of me is more than my body can handle. I’m totally happy with that. I walked away delighted with all I had experienced and accomplished; I had runners high without the run. The years of martial arts is working its’ magic; my body is changing. And where I focus my attention is changing; I see progress rather than obstacles. That is miraculous! Housed within its old shell is a powerful, peace filled, indomitable spirit. And in the end knew when to peacefully and gracefully take a zip line down to the ground while happily looking up into a bright powerful future.

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