Do you have a choice when you are out there, 39kms high, ready to jump out of a balloon? Well actually, no. You don’t have a choice. The balloon travels higher and higher, until it burns. You really don’t want to experience that.
So you have to jump. No chickening out. No cancelling the plans.
What does that teach us about traveling? Well, a lot. There is a lot of travel fear out there. People don’t dare to go to India because of the dirt and extreme chaos in the cities. Others will never go to Colombia because of the crime or fear of being kidnapped. South Africa: crime. Rio: street robberies. Antartica: cold. Japan: language. Birma: government restrictions. Mali: poverty. But you know, all these countries offer great opportunities for travelers. Birma is opening up for tourists, providing visa much easier and you already have ample of tours to choose from. India is extreme, but you can also call it a feast for the senses.
Felix jumped.
There was no option but to jump. This is his lesson to travelers with fear: buy that plane, train or bus ticket. Get your esta permit. As soon as you own that ticket, there is no way back. You just have to jump into the adventure called travel. And you will love it!
Fear about traveling
Trust me, fear about traveling is contagious and will always be around the next corner. But after you finally did travel to that ‘difficult’ country for the first time you will fall down on your knees, thank whoever you want to thank and smile from ear to ear: you are the traveler that crushed the fears and explored the world!
Thanks Felix.
18 comments
I love the message, even if the facts were found to be a little off base. You just need to jump 😉
Thanks Laurence.
Who cares if there was a back-up, maybe that wouldn’t have worked. In situations like these we jump with our hearts instead of our heads.
That’s the spirit Ayngelina! Jump with our hearts instead of our heads, well put!
Love how tied the space jump with travel. No fears! Well, I may have a few, but I try to get over them… 😉
Thanks Gina and I’m sure you will get over those last couple of fears 🙂
[…] I mean, this whole thing makes our stomach one big giant knot of fear. What Red Bull and Felix Baumgartner taught us about traveling […]
To connect the event even more to travel, the founder of Red Bull came up with the idea of the drink based on an energy elixure/syrup from some SouthEast Asian country he was traveling through. I can’t recall the exact country but I recently heard the story on NPR. Thus, because he traveled, or jumped, it opened the opportunity to future leapers.
I knew travel was good for a LOT of things!
You did it right the first time. The message, loud and clear. Jump. Stop thinking about it and just jump. The fear never goes away. Just go. Do it. Love it. Thank you for posting it! I don’t care about the facts. The message is what’s important! And I was awe inspired watching Felix make that jump!
Well said, Rita.
Love it Rita! Great comment and thanks for the support. Let’s jump!!
I believe the mistake in fact inadvertently adds to the article Emiel. You jumped, like Felix did, when you pressed publish this post. You put yourself out there for other to read your opinion and connection you made with this historic event. Yes you got it wrong but you’re dealing with it as other do when they encounter risk, adversity and misadventure when they travel. It’s a boring life if you never take that jump.
The other point I’d like to make is the correction by FactChecker6 is valid and worthy for inclusion as a comment. Those who run blogs and websites with commenting turned off don’t allow for facts to be corrected or alternate opinions to be put forward. Thankfully you do.
Congratulation to Emiel and FactChecker6.
Allan mcDonald
@EQUIPnTRIP
Thank you so much Allan and yes, it’s a boring life if you never take that jump! I do appreciate your feedback, also about turning on the comment sections for responses like this. I think that is the most valuable way to learn (also from mistakes) but more importantly to engage with readers like we are doing now.
Entire premise is off base. The balloon had valves to keep it from continuing to climb. And if something had gone wrong, there was a plan to get Felix back down without jumping.
Nice try, but completely and utterly factually incorrect.
Thank you FactChecker 6! Indeed good to know the facts.
I made such a nice link to travel and how to crush the travel fears….all gone…I know how many people are afraid to travel and look at what we can learn from Felix. Such courage to just go!
Well, nice try indeed. 🙂
My previous comment was a little harsh…for that I apologize. I did understand the thinking behind your blog post and still believe it could be linked to the space jump. Perhaps the point that when he made the leap it was too late to turn back….just like making the commitment to buy the travel ticket.
You were so close and had the right idea!
Well thank you FactChecker 6! It was indeed a bit harsh (but I can handle that I think), but thanks for the apologies, appreciated. Next big event I’m sure to do it right! 🙂