Zip Lining Frees My Mind

By Cheryl Mattox Berry

Several friends have asked what possessed me to go zip lining. One jokingly said I like pain and suffering. My husband thinks I’m going through a daredevil phase. Rest assured, it’s none of the above.

I decided to go zip lining for one reason: to regain my self-confidence.

After I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing tennis four years ago, something inside me shut down. The recovery was long and painful. I wasn’t able to do the things I enjoyed or wear cute shoes for a long time. My goal was to go hiking one year after surgery, but my leg wasn’t ready. I went into a funk and back into physical therapy.

I worried that I would never be my athletic self again. I felt vulnerable and fearful, and began playing it safe. I took Zumba and boxing fitness classes because I could control the intensity of the workouts and stop if any body part hurt.

Whenever I wanted to do something new, I googled it, analyzed the information ad nauseum and then talked myself out of doing it. Anxiety made me stop taking solo trips to my favorite Florida beaches to write, collect shells and take pictures of nature.

I was making myself crazy worrying and researching every little thing, even in the middle of the night if I thought of something. I justed wanted to let go and be free again.

Enter zip lining. It looked like fun and would be challenging zipping through the tree canopy, walking along two rope bridges high in the sky and rappeling down a platform tower the equivalent of a three-story building.

I told my daughter, Jasmine, and she set it up the Saturday before Mother’s Day when I went to visit her in Washington, D.C. I was excited – but not scared – on the drive to Shenandoah State Park in Bentonville, Va. After a 15-minute training session, we hopped into two Polaris Rangers and headed for the hills with four other fun seekers and two guides.

The first zip lines were short and easy. As they became longer and faster, our guide, Matt, gave us riddles to put us at ease. Here’s one: What comes twice in a week and once in bed? Answer: the letter “e.” I know it sounds corny, but the point he made was don’t overthink the question.

I followed his advice for two other riddles and got the answers right away. Then, the light bulb popped on.  If I can fly through the air on a thin wire with no fear, I can do anything. Stop overthinking everything, Cheryl. Just do it. That’s how I used to approach life before the Achilles injury.

With that in mind, I was the first to zip our longest and fastest run (1,039 feet and up to 40 mph.) Then, I rappeled down the platform (almost upside down by the time I reached the ground) excited that I had conquered my demons. My old self was back. I had a renewed attitude.

Girl, it was about time!