Running this through the SteveOmeter, I'll admit I've always rather liked heights, though I've never jumped from a plane. There's a photo of me (from the ground) where at ~23 I got to the roof of a building on the UT campus and sat on a corner, one leg over one side, and the other over the other, and man, from the photo it looks like I'm a maniac up there, but I remember feeling totally safe and stable because I knew where my weight was (in my butt). A sudden breeze wouldn't have moved me.
But that's the whole thing with heights - you have to know where your weight is, and the closer I've gotten to the edge of a cliff the more my body has insisted I get lower. I'd look over a cliff but I'd be flat on my belly. I would never stand at the edge of a cliff, and to do it with my back turned feels suicidal. I don't know that I could make my body do it. This is making me realize that every time I've taken a selfie I've not just felt disconnected from my environment, but my body as well, like I don't know where my feet or my weight are. I had a girlfriend who was a modern dancer and she told me if I ever felt uncomfortable or anxious in a social situation to put my consciousness into my feet (if standing). What that does is ground you and make your weight low. It helps!
Interesting about putting the consciousness into feet, I'll try that. But I while walking if I think of walking, it gets harder!
I like the idea of of running everything through the SteveOmeter. I also have a picture from college of me on a tiny ledge of my fourth floor dorm, holding onto the roof. That's just so nuts. But somehow that was fine at the time..
Related story: a celebrity (big at the time) leapt from our roof to the next in Weehawken NJ, then nearly fell to his death (surely) on the way back. Would've affected my life trajectory had he fallen since we'd plied him with margaritas. Luckily he was not taking a selfie at the time (there were no selfies at that time).
I loved this article and want to hike those falls. I miss upstate NY and the beauty and the magic of its scenery. I have to get back soon.
And I couldn’t agree more about your points on selfies. Nice to share beautiful experiences with friends but obsessing over the perfect pose and look are all negatives. Be present would be my advice. You’ll be much happier. I know you feel the same way from previous posts
SH neighbor here. I felt completed to reach out to you as a fear twin. I also jumped out of an airplane one time but the moment my children get within spitting distance of a drop l lose all rational thought. A switch from fear to hyper fear the minute my children arrived. Like my sudden aversion to Law and Order SVU, there was no clawing it back. This all spoke to me
So true how having kids changes everything in the world so dramatically. I'm glad you related and thanks for reaching out! Now we live to protect our kids and can't be reckless, so no more plane jumping!
An amazing quirk we have - taking a selfie while not worrying about self.
I feel Darwin would include selfies as a part of natural selection at its finest.
Yes!
Powerful. I love how you wove personal experience with the broader issue of “death by selfie.” Really makes you stop and think.
Thank you!
Running this through the SteveOmeter, I'll admit I've always rather liked heights, though I've never jumped from a plane. There's a photo of me (from the ground) where at ~23 I got to the roof of a building on the UT campus and sat on a corner, one leg over one side, and the other over the other, and man, from the photo it looks like I'm a maniac up there, but I remember feeling totally safe and stable because I knew where my weight was (in my butt). A sudden breeze wouldn't have moved me.
But that's the whole thing with heights - you have to know where your weight is, and the closer I've gotten to the edge of a cliff the more my body has insisted I get lower. I'd look over a cliff but I'd be flat on my belly. I would never stand at the edge of a cliff, and to do it with my back turned feels suicidal. I don't know that I could make my body do it. This is making me realize that every time I've taken a selfie I've not just felt disconnected from my environment, but my body as well, like I don't know where my feet or my weight are. I had a girlfriend who was a modern dancer and she told me if I ever felt uncomfortable or anxious in a social situation to put my consciousness into my feet (if standing). What that does is ground you and make your weight low. It helps!
Interesting about putting the consciousness into feet, I'll try that. But I while walking if I think of walking, it gets harder!
I like the idea of of running everything through the SteveOmeter. I also have a picture from college of me on a tiny ledge of my fourth floor dorm, holding onto the roof. That's just so nuts. But somehow that was fine at the time..
Related story: a celebrity (big at the time) leapt from our roof to the next in Weehawken NJ, then nearly fell to his death (surely) on the way back. Would've affected my life trajectory had he fallen since we'd plied him with margaritas. Luckily he was not taking a selfie at the time (there were no selfies at that time).
Tequila! Glad he survived so you don’t have on your conscience!
I loved this article and want to hike those falls. I miss upstate NY and the beauty and the magic of its scenery. I have to get back soon.
And I couldn’t agree more about your points on selfies. Nice to share beautiful experiences with friends but obsessing over the perfect pose and look are all negatives. Be present would be my advice. You’ll be much happier. I know you feel the same way from previous posts
SH neighbor here. I felt completed to reach out to you as a fear twin. I also jumped out of an airplane one time but the moment my children get within spitting distance of a drop l lose all rational thought. A switch from fear to hyper fear the minute my children arrived. Like my sudden aversion to Law and Order SVU, there was no clawing it back. This all spoke to me
So true how having kids changes everything in the world so dramatically. I'm glad you related and thanks for reaching out! Now we live to protect our kids and can't be reckless, so no more plane jumping!