Joy Bryant Instagram – I took one step and froze. “I can’t do it.”
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We were halfway through a beautiful 6 mile hike where the biggest challenge was keeping our feet dry while crossing a stream. Now I’m on a survival course that wasn’t on the itinerary.
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Just a few minutes before, after watching @adavecalledyeti and @eliza_earle cruise across the wire bridge, I thought, “Yeah, I got this.” I have good balance. I’m good. .
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But all of that confidence floated down the river once I climbed up onto the bridge, saw the river below, and looked out to the other side. It was way sketchier, higher, and longer than it appeared from the ground. .
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I tried to breathe the fear away but all I could think about was slipping off the wire and falling onto the rocks as the river carried me away. .
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“Is there another way across,” I ask #EddieBauer guide @carolinegeorge and our #NewZealand guide Bob. They look at each other and don’t even bother to answer the question, but offer an encouraging, “You can do it,” instead.
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I look across the bridge and down below again. I try to lift my foot, but it’s stuck. “No, really, I can’t!”
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“I’ll do it with you,” says Caroline before climbing up the ladder to join me on the bridge.“We’re going to do this together. One step at a time. One breathe at time.” And that’s what we did. .
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With Caroline’s help, I was able to focus on my steps and breathe, and not my ‘death by river rocks’. And before I knew it, I was cruising too.
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I made it across triumphant, and sent my fears down the river.
#LiveYourAdventure
@eddiebauer
@ihprteam
@newzeal2015
📸 @eliza_earle
#EBPartner | Posted on 16/Oct/2018 00:31:36
