Harnessed up

My grandsons enjoying the challenge

There were distinct similarities. Not just their caramel-coloured shirts and shorts, but their outgoing personalities, dry sense of humour and encouraging words. They had obviously been handpicked for the role and I was feeling very grateful as I harnessed up for a ropes course I hadn’t imagined I could or would ever attempt.
 
It’s amazing how laughter and a sense of fun can reduce anxiety or fear in a matter of moments. These guys were masters at putting people at their ease. They made the seemingly impossible sound like an adventure.
 

Just one of the many challenges we faced

Once in the treetops, facing one stretching challenge after another, if someone froze, one of the team would magically appear below to talk the person through with encouragement and reassurance. They seemed committed to making sure that everyone had an enjoyable experience. Of course it was their job, but somehow it seemed much more than that. They were passionate about what they did and it showed.

If anyone had told me that I'd be swinging through the treetops over Taronga Park Zoo one day, I'd have laughed out loud. But when a love of my grandsons and the strong encouragement of a son who knows me better than I know myself and believes in me, mesh together, somehow it made the unthinkable seem possible.

As I stood on the first platform with a single steel rope between me and the next platform it took all of my strength and courage to step out and walk across the rope. It didn't get any easier. Each new challenge came with a fresh call for courage, but to hear the shouts of my grandsons, "Good on you grandma" was such joy that I will treasure the memory forever.

And what a view from the top! Seeing the zoo from above was fascinating and when someone below heard by grandson's shouts of encouragement I heard someone say, "Oh looks there's a grandma up there." Read embarrassed and chuffed!

Then there was the spectacular view of Sydney Harbour shimmered in its summer glory.

I learnt a lot that day. I learnt that I wasn’t too old to try something new, to get out of my comfort zone and do something scary. I learnt that the reward for facing my fears was exhilaration and freedom and a deep-seated awareness that often the only barriers are the ones I put on myself.

I learnt that courage, like faith, only grows when its tested.
 
And I learnt that we all have the opportunity every day to encourage and spur each other on … to reassure … to challenge, and to help each other achieve what seems impossible ... to help awaken someone to the possibilities within them.