Rappelling into the Black Hole of Belize

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Today I rappelled 310 feet down into a sink hole and cave system named “the black hole” in Belize, anchored to a tree while looking like a harnessed stuffed sausage, or as my dear friend calls me, “chorizita,” following a sensational Belizean breakfast buffet. We hiked several miles through the rainforest, learning about the flora and fauna, which plants were lethally painful to encounter, and which could be consumed. Speaking of needing to consume things in dire straits, I ate a termite, which I was surprised to find, tastes like carrot. The surroundings were so lush and beautiful they didn’t seem real and by the end of this adventure I was filthy, covered in sweat, and grinning like a 5 year old who just discovered their new favorite flavor of ice cream. I did not tremble and shake as I clipped in and approached the edge as I had just a few months ago in Utah and Arizona. My legs did not quiver and my mouth did not go dry as in times past, even though the length of this rappel and drop was more than twice the length of any I had done previously. You see, this is why its positive we face our fears and have the courage to do so. It is not that I lacked fear or was overconfident. No. It’s that my life and what I know I am capable of had expanded because of previous times I had evoked courage to rise to the occasion of this adrenaline spiking activity. My mind knew what to do, and my body was ready. I could now embrace this challenge happily because I had already faced and overcome these fears. As the author of my life’s personal legend I am not traveling to find myself. I am working on this journey to CREATE myself and make this year one of my favorite chapters, full of expansion and courage. Here’s my call to action to you. I hope today, tomorrow, this week, or this month, you do something with courage to expand your life. Coming from someone who is 5ft nothing with no more room to shrink I I wish you all the expansion in the world. May life be your breakfast buffet