TCC To The Rescue (November 2019)

A friend and I decided it would be fun to get out of our comfortable exercise routine of walking or biking and try something more daring. Neither of us fears heights so the forty-foot-high ropes course sounded like a great idea to stretch our minds and bodies. We were tethered for safety; the system was comfortable and dependable. I only doubted my upper body strength should I fall and be caught by the safety line.

The first of the five elements required walking on a wire cable. The handholds were a series of ropes, each hanging down freely from the top and spaced unevenly. The distance between ropes varied from about three to five feet. Each rope was a different length and ended with a knot.

I put my foot on the cable and leaned over to grab the first rope while my second foot was still on the platform. I moved my other foot onto the cable and made for second rope. I became tense, and as my body tightened, the cable began to sway more and more. I began to grip my tether with white knuckles. Midway across the cable I became so nervous that I could not move. The cable was wobbling under my feet. I was stuck in fear.

My T’ai Chi Chih practice came to my mind. I let myself stand still and block out everything but my breathing. As my breathing became calmer, my body quieted and softened. I stood in alignment with my weight evenly over my feet. I relaxed my knees. When it was time to move, I moved from my tan t’ien, step-by-step, rope-by-rope to the next platform. The fear did not return during the rest of the course elements.