What’s the thing you’re most scared to do?
What would it take to get you to do it?
Every now and then someone says they went skydiving on the weekend like it’s a normal weekend activity.
They’ll say it casually—like it’s on the same level as trying a new café. I’m always interested and usually ask polite questions, but the truth is I think skydiving is the thing I’m most scared to do.
It’s not because I’m afraid of heights. I’ll abseil. I’ll stand on a cliff edge and look down. I’ll walk across an elevated footbridge or a narrow log. I’m careful, but I’m not frightened.
Skydiving is different. I don’t want to do it. I’m not an adrenaline person, and I don’t crave the rush of being on the edge. So it’s not desire versus fear. It’s mostly just “no thanks,” and when I look under that, it’s not the height. It’s what could go wrong.
Equipment failure is the first thing. I know the chances are low, but I don’t want to be the one. I’m also wary of making a mistake. There’s no “I’ll do better next time” if something goes wrong.
I could do it, but it would have to be for a good reason. I’d want to be well prepared, to understand what’s required, and to know I’m in good hands with people I trust. I know Australia’s safety regulations are strict and the fatality rate is low—around one in 500,000 jumps—but I’d still want assurance that everything has been done properly.
One thing that does help, oddly, is learning that many serious accidents involve highly experienced jumpers pushing limits or becoming complacent.
There is very little chance of me becoming complacent.
The Afterword 
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