Daily writing prompt

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

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Back in my freshman year, I developed a pretty healthy fear of heights. I was taking a military science class and we were challenged to jump off the rappelling tower (backward, of course, and with the proper gear). Regardless of the safety measures involved, I was terrified for some reason, and I have had a fear of high places since then.

The irony is that I hate irrational fear. There’s healthy fear, like knowing that fire will burn you, that a rattlesnake is poisonous or that standing in the middle of the road will probably not end well. But irrational fears, like being afraid of milk or your closet or crossing a bridge – or of high places – well, that makes no sense to me. Because I know that none of those things, and of themselves, pose any real danger, so people shouldn’t inherently (and perpetually) afraid of them.

So, my fear of heights makes no sense, even though I know it’s still there. Last year I challenged it by going on a zipline tour that included a quarter-mile zip through a tall forest. It was fun and exhilarating, but I know the fear is still lurking a bit. What would I do to challenge it?

Anyone have a plane and a parachute?

Under the right circumstances and with a tandem instructor, I’d probably jump out of a plane. And it wouldn’t take me a lot to do it, mainly because I’d see it as another step toward overcoming my irrational fear of heights.

So, I’m serious. Anyone have a plane and a parachute?