4 Skydivers Share Their Life-Changing Skydiving Stories & Prove The Sky's Not The Limit
They say the sky is the limit and for these brave few, that means literally!
Recently, we asked a few adventurous readers to tweet their skydiving experiences and we must say, the response was overwhelming. xoNecole readers and tweeters did not just sum up their dives from the sky in 140 characters. They sent video, photos and detailed anecdotes that only captured half of the moments. We were in awe at the emotion and background stories that inspired most of these brave souls to jump off a plane suspended 14,000 feet in the air.
Wow!
While some skydived in seek of adventure and admitted that it started off as a mere feat to scratch off of their bucket lists, there were others who skydived to conquer their fears and for other reasons deeper than themselves. However, one thing all these beautiful souls had in common in the end, besides their desire to go higher, was the feeling of love and limitless inspiration they felt the entire seven minutes they were falling.
Skydiving is definitely something to try at least once if you're in your 20s or 30s. If you haven't yet, it might be time to take that leap of faith!
Peep some of our favorite stories below:
Tracey [ @TraceyDukes ]
My mother and I use to talk about possibly skydiving together when I was a teenager. We both felt that skydiving was okay but bungee jumping was definitely out of the question (weird I know but the thought of bouncing back up just was/is too much for me). I found out some real life friends of mine actually felt the same way, and wanted to about do it as well! So for my 25th birthday three of my friends surprised me and said, "We're going to Vegas for your birthday and we're skydiving!"
Let me tell you, jumping from a plane was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING, I've ever seen next to the birth of my daughter. I'm very spiritual in the sense that I was touched by how small human beings actually are from up there. Just realizing that on a larger scale of things. We are just THAT small. It's so peaceful so serene. It was like nothing I've ever experienced. After my jump I immediately told my mother, and surprisingly she was upset at me for not taking her! We agreed that we would do it together for my next jump, no if's, and's or but's about it.
Unfortunately that day never came... My mother passed away early last year on April 14, 2013. She was cremated and initially I wanted to take her ashes with me on my next jump but that didn't work out, unfortunately. But on July 14th, four days before my 28th birthday, I went skydiving again and this time I went out in California where I currently reside. I immediately broke down thinking of my mother, and dedicated my jump to her.
[Tweet "I was crying at a few thousand feet in the sky. I was crying at a few thousand feet in the sky"]
I can laugh now looking back at it, but it again was one of the best, freeing, exhilarating, cleansing, and so worth it experiences I've ever had. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!! I Hope this paints the beautiful picture of the world that is skydiving.
Catch Tracey's video:
O'Keyla [@lowkeyindc]
I'm not exactly what you'd call an adrenaline junky, but I do love adventure for no other reason than I like to be the girl to say I did something that most people I know haven't- like skydiving. Frankly, the only reason I did it was because I was running out of cool things to brag about.
That one minute of free fall with this miniature man on my back was without a doubt the most out of control I've ever been of my own body, yet I've never felt more in control. After the initial thought of “I've just jumped to my death", I realized I'd probably live and giggled tremendously between breaths on the way down.
[Tweet "It is truly unexplainable the level of peacefulness that took over my entire body."]
The opportunity to take in all of nature's beauty from OUTSIDE a plane 13,500 feet above is a feeling I'll never be able to fully articulate, but I can say, by far, it was one of my bravest and proudest moments.
Next up: Shark Diving. I do what I want.
Briana McLennon [ @anairb ]
Skydiving has always been on my bucket list because it seemed like the ultimate form of freedom and a crazy adrenaline rush! I'm not afraid of heights, but jumping out of a plane that's 14,000 feet in the air will make anyone semi-terrified. Once I got over the initial shock, I felt an inexplicable feeling of excitement and some sort of unspoken revelation. Being able to see the beautiful world from another view makes you realize that there's so much to see, do, and influence beyond our reach... and that is truly a life changing experience.
[Tweet "You realize that sometimes you just need to leap forward and take a chance."]
Don't hold yourself back, because anything is possible.
Will I go skydiving again? OF COURSE I will! I recommend skydiving and other outdoor activities to everyone! Sometimes you need to get out of the typical routine of life and try something different. Since then, I've gone white water rafting, swam with whale sharks, and zip lining, so there's plenty more in store for me!
Astrin [@Gem_N_Eyez]
My friends and I were discussing our 30th birthdays, which were all coming up within a year or so. We wanted to be more adventurous and someone mentioned skydiving as a possible activity. This discussion also lead us to develop a saying: “30 by 30", which entails completing 30 extraordinary things by our 30th birthdays.
Ultimately, a group of us decided to go for it and take on skydiving! I think we jumped from the plane at 14,000 feet in the air. After I jumped out of the plane, I was scared for the first few seconds, but then I became awestruck at the spectacular view and the idea of me gliding in the air.
[Tweet "I became awestruck at the spectacular view and the idea of me gliding in the air."]
It was definitely a life-changing experience and I would certainly do it again! #30by30
Have you ever skydived? Or done anything über adventurous for that matter? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know your experience in the comments!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I Took Three Months Off From Work In The Name Of Radical Self-Preservation
In the fourth quarter of 2023, I finally did it. I pulled the plug! To be honest, it was a long time coming. I spent years juggling all of the balls in my life, and on October 2, 2023, I dropped every one of them and fell into surrender mode.
I couldn’t take it anymore - work, family, relationships, politics, death, the ramifications of COVID-19, and my fears creeping in. I had either put off dealing with these things, or I simply didn’t want to acknowledge them. Instead, my time, energy, and focus were on everyone and everything beside me. I pushed myself to the limit; then everything started to consume me. Burnout was swallowing me whole, you feel me?
All of this forced me to do some much-needed introspection which I turned into my self-proclaimed, "Fade to Black Season."
What is a “Fade to Black Season,” you may ask?
It’s a call to rest.
It’s a call to reset.
It’s a call to retreat into a deep, quiet space.
It’s radical self-preservation.
Deciding to step back from everything was not an easy decision for me. I contemplated taking a break from everything for many years until I couldn’t put it off anymore. If I didn’t take this time off, I knew I wouldn’t be able to truly show up for the life that I claimed that I wanted for myself.
I know I’m not the only one who has felt this immense weight on their shoulders. Why? Because I’m a Black woman. According to Every Level Leadership, 88% of Black women sometimes often, or always have experienced burnout. And let’s be honest here - Black women work harder than any other group. We are the backbone of our jobs, families, and community. Because of this, we must incorporate rest as an integral part of our well-being. In case there’s some pushback, I’ll leave this quote here for you to marinate on:
“If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” - Zora Neale Hurston
The reality is that with piles of work and life obligations, many of us are walking time bombs. And, for me, two weeks of PTO/vacation wasn’t enough time needed to balance myself, so I took three months off. If you feel called to do so, let this be your inspiration to take your own “Fade to Black Season.”
Here’s what I did.
- Shadow Work: I became best friends with my journal and illuminated the things I hid from myself to heal. Shadow work consists of the things you don’t like about yourself, your conscious and unconscious fears, and other negative emotions that exist due to past experiences and trauma.
- Trigger Warning: During this time, I let my triggers become my wisest teacher. I asked myself why various experiences, news, or communications resulted in negativity. I observed them, listened, and learned why they took up so much space in my life. Then, I allowed myself to choose to be open to a different outcome or feeling moving forward.
- Get Back To Pleasure: I re-centered my pleasure. I had to remind myself of what turned me on. I allowed myself to take life slowly, engage my senses, and play. I signed up for every tantra workshop, went to art museums in the middle of the day, took movement classes, and went to dance parties. I moved all the stagnant energy out of my body.
- Let Others Lift You Up: I let my people love on me. I let my loved ones take care of me. This wasn’t easy. I was used to being everyone’s support system and soft space to land. However, in my time of need, I finally let my tribe show up and show out for me. My only regret is not letting them do this sooner.
- Social Media Break: I broke up with social media during this time. Reclaiming my time and attention was an integral factor in calming my nervous system. I put blockers on my phone, and when I felt the urge to swipe and scroll, I took a walk or picked up a book.
- Redefine Your Life: After doing this type of work, I knew that I would never be the same. In this new space, boundaries and balance are prioritized, and everything else has to fall in line. I now have the mental/emotional space and capacity to do my best work!
Best of all, during this time, I found God in myself, and I loved her, fiercely.
My “Fade To Black" Season allowed me to grieve in peace, rest, tap into unrelenting joy, and simply be. At this point, me and peace got a good thing going on. Nothing else will be tolerated!
For those of you who are nervous about taking the first step, use The Dufree Foundation’s DIY Sabbatical Guide to help you plan, prep, and prepare yourself for your sabbatical - this is something I wish I had done before I leaped. Consider going on a Divine Pause Retreat to learn tips and tricks to avoid mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout.
For those who work in social impact, apply for The Durfee Sabbatical program, which offers $60,000 and a three-month sabbatical, so nonprofit leaders can be a lever for whole systems change.
The choice to take a sabbatical is up to you! Just remember to prioritize yourself and never pour from an empty cup.
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Featured image by Maskot/Getty Images