Big Change
Hi Steph!
There’s going to be lots of firsts in this greeting but you seem to thrive on firsts so I’m going to let ’em rip. I’ve never written to a complete stranger before being the happy lone wolf that I am, sternly navigating the social media storm from the outside. Your most recent book has inspired me into this new writing-to-a-blog territory and I gotta admit I feel a tad unnerved!I picked up Learning to Fly largely because three years ago I took an unexpected midlife detour and seriously took up snowboarding. Now at 55 I’m obsessed with speed, beauty and being badass in a way I never ever suspected existed so fiercely within me. Suddenly I’m seeking out stories about people surfing insanely big waves and watching youtube clips of boarders blissing on back country powder, especially women. Your book is one out of many fascinating glimpses into the lives of extreme athletes but none that wrenched my guts like yours. My god, you have a stunning gift for sharing generously of yourself; such rawness, depth and eloquence. Your courageous decision to write as a fellow vulnerable human being is helping me through some unplanned big change in my life right now. THANK YOU.
More firsts: Back in 2010 Gareth Thomas was the first gay professional athlete to come out, and in rugby no less! This year he is a part of a charity called Sport Relief which involves inspiring seniors, men and women, to take their first tandem skydiving jumps. I’m sending you a youtube link, it’s a little long so if you want to cut to the chase, check out the final minutes. I don’t know if I was laughing or crying harder there at the end! Pure joy.
Deep gratitude and then some,
Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fkfes1zz-k
Hi Rose,
I hope you have enjoyed this first of writing to a blog 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comments and also for sharing your flying adventure!!
Keep living hard and flying high, and enjoy gravity!
🙂 Steph
