Grease, overpriced mini corn dogs, and Chinese lo mein: the unique combination of smells located in the food court at Midriver's Mall. I was simply enjoying my time with three of my best friends, and as usual, I allowed my eyes to wander across the scenes set before me.
I watched a young man nervously dig in his pocket, checking his cell-phone for a message. I smiled as I saw a mother trying to corral her three children from walking in another's path. I saw a couple of teenage boys laughing a couple of tables away from us, and another family all on their cell-phones as they sat and ate.
What came into my view next was a man with his son and daughter, beaming as he walked the two children over to the giant trampoline attractions. He paid the woman, and immediately his son ran to the trampoline on the left. His daughter, on the other hand, looked up at her father with big, brown eyes, scared and undoubtedly shaky. She eyed the trampoline, clearly distressed, staring at it as if she wanted nothing more in the world than for that horrendous thing to be turned into a winter wonderland by Elsa.
Her father quickly understood how nervous and panicky his daughter was. He started to soothe her, telling her everything would be alright and that he had faith that she could do it. She glanced at him suspiciously, then turned back to the trampoline with a fire burning in her eyes. With one last oomph of encouragement, he said, "Honey, don't let fear keep you from having fun."With that, the small child smirked at her father and hurried over to the trampoline.
"I'm going to strap you in; these harnesses will keep you safe," the worker assured the young girl.
Upon being buckled in, the girl gave one last look of terror to her father. He smiled at her and nodded his head. The girl stayed still at first, watching her brother jump up and down on the trampoline. With a little boost of faith at seeing him still alive and having a blast, she too started to jump!
There are no words to perfectly describe the look upon her face as she began jumping. Joy and delight spread across her face like I had never seen on anyone before. I realized in that moment, that the expression of happiness on her face was not due to the fact that she was jumping on a trampoline, although that was unquestionably part of it. The best part of her experience wasn't physical. What gave the girl such satisfaction was conquering her fear.
Life can be compared to the experience of the girl jumping on a trampoline at the mall. At certain times in life, we come to a crossroad, where there is a decision we can make to either stick to what is convenient, painless, and easy OR we can try something new which could potentially harm us, but could also alter us into our better selves. It is so much easier to do what is natural and safe for us, to make the decision which won't cause us to change, one that won't bring us pain. Life is greater when we take a leap of faith into the unknown. Sure, it could potentially harm us. Sure, it could break our heart. Sure, we might want to refrain from doing something so terrifying and out of our comfort zone ever again, but in the end, the decision to break free from the chains constraining us to be the same, to stay in safe waters, is beyond worth doing. It could change your life, for the better, and even if it doesn't make your situation better, you will have conquered your fear!
Why continue doing the same thing? Why be afraid to take a chance? Why not experiment with other options? Sometimes, taking life by the horns won't work out very well, but in other instances, like with the young girl who taught me that trying something new in life can be breathtakingly beautiful, you could be making a decision that will brighten your life to an extent you never dreamed it could.
Don't be afraid to conquer your fears; you are an overcomer! Vanquish your doubts; eliminate the fear of failure and shame, test your limits, and take a leap of faith! Who knows what great heights you will come to when you subdue your dread of the unknown!
