One Step to Freedom?

100% of the shots you neer take, never get in.In the middle of the arid desert, Colorado. A congregation of Cypriots and myself among them, crossed through the desert to reach the camping site where we would put across the night. Continuously attacking us, the blazing sun followed our every foot quality, as our bodies were dissolve shoot down like defenceless ice cubes. After a twain of hundreds of metres of walk, my feet started to numb. I was exhausted. My bottle, constantly in my hand, was running turn up of water.Can my daylight get worse?, I wondered.What I didnt know was, that these obstacles were nonhing compared to the privileged conflict I would be going through soon.Does any whizz want to harbour a break? Does anyone want to have a swim?, Michael, our drawing card asked. Suddenly the feelings of joy and excitement replaced the tiredness and everyone was now smiling I noniced I was smiling too. Impatiently we wholly followed Michael. That is when I initiative c ame face to face with my own Via Dolorosa. The worst of all is that I was non aware(predicate) of how difficult it would be for me, that small step I was asked to take, for which I had to grapple hard with my own thoughts and deepest fears which I was not even aware of. How can you fight something you cannot see?Following the flow of my friends and climbing on a small hill, I reached the beginning of my slow and painful torture. I was standing at the edge of a rocky knoll, about ternary metres above the ground and beneath me, a tiny lake with crystal produce water. I could already picture myself, in the lake, with the cool water rubbish off the heat, while my body was enjoying the luxuries of nature. As I lowered my level to face my reflection on the calm surface of the lake, the truth tot me in the face. I will never forget how shocked I was when I realised I was not ready I couldnt get across I didnt want to.Nicola, are you going to jump or not?, Shane asked me.The questio n brought me to my senses like . . . . . . .No. Go on. I will go later., I replied.While watching them spring with such comfort, as if it was fun, as if they were enjoying themselves, I felt angry with myself. Why had I stopped? It couldnt be that difficult, after all nobody else seemed to find it challenging, on the contrary they all thought of it as amusing. If they could do it, so could I.All of a sudden I changed my mind. I felt this urge, this push, the desire to jump as well.I can do this, I told myself.Once again I shew myself standing at the edge of the hill get windd to jump and at a time again I changed my mind, as my fears came to support my body froze instantly. It was as if my legs were pasted into place, I couldnt move. Out of the blue, the battle started the battle everyplace which I had no control, the battle which was going on in my head and whose winner would determine my decision. On one side my limiting beliefs and fears joined forces, to stop me from jump ing while on the other side my desire to jump was defensively arduous to repulse the attack. The damage to the defence lines was unavoidable and since my fears took control over my body, I stepped back instead of going forward.Time was going by so quickly, as I tended to oscillate between the determination of jumping and the fear of falling. Over twenty minutes had passed since my last attempt and I was not looking forward to another one.Nicola we will be exit soon, if you are going to jump, do it now, or else advance down so that we can continue.No , a voice inside my head screamed. I am not giving up. I am not leaving unless I jump. As these wild thoughts were passing through my head, the sun sank lower. severe to convince myself that I could do it, I once more stepped at the doorstep of fear.You have thirty seconds to jump.I took a deep breath. amaze on Nicolas, a friend of mine shouted. Its only one stepTwenty-nine, twenty-eight . . .Puzzled as I were, I looked around as if searching for an answer. Suddenly I realised that everyone was staring at me. Was it in truth only one step? Then what? Freedom?Sixteen, fifteen . . . The countdown continued.Hey Nicola, bear in mind to me Stop thinking so hard. Just jump Its only one step.It was of no use. I didnt hear a thing.Nine, eight, seven . . .I looked down at the lake. How could falling equate to freedom? There were fluctuations in my feelings. I couldnt decide. I couldnt even take a small step.Three, two, one. Come on Nicolas we are leaving Come downI took a glitter at the azure sky as if it was my last one. I took a last deep breath.I am coming, the words break up like bullets out of my mouth.I closed my eyes. I could hear the phone line booming in my ears. The cold breeze made me shiver. I prime myself trembling like an undersized flower in a baseless storm of hesitant feelings and fears. I slowly bent my knees and jumped.Time stopped. My life was passing through my mind like an old black and e gg white movie. I panicked. I didnt want to fall. I regretted jumping. I waved my hands desperately, trying to hold onto something. A rock, a stone anything. Nothing there was nothing. I wanted to throw up. It was as if air was pushing my stomach up in my chest and out of my mouth.Even today, when I recall the status and when I picture the whole scene in my mind, the same feelings come up fear, anxiety, fluctuation, regret. The same feelings which filled me up then, which becalm do, as if I am there. As if I never left. As if I never jumped. As if it was all for nothing.Although I am not free from my fears, I know it was not for nothing. I took the risk, I took the shot and I m proud of myself. The cheers and the congratulations I received as I came out of the lake, almost made up for the torture I went through. I was still feeling a bit dizzy from the fall so I sat to rest. That is when Michael came and told me100% of the shots you never take, never get in. straightway this quote is one of my favourites. It was actually a quote of Michael Jordans referring to basketball. When I outset heard it, I didnt really understand what it meant, but after thinking about it, I became aware of its true meaning. It means that if someone does not dare to shoot the ball, because it may not go in the basket, he will never score.Its risky not taking risks a heady man said.In the middle of the arid desert, Colorado, I took the risk. I jumped. I may have not been freed from my fears but I learned my lesson. This interpret shaped me into who I am today. A man who is not horror-stricken of taking risks, and making steps beyond the limits of fears and limiting beliefs.