Once Can Be Enough

 Once Can Be Enough

There are many things that I would like to do. In fact, I have made a list of 100 things I would like to do before I die. I have been checking off quite a few items on the list over the last couple of months, including a fire walk and a hot air balloon ride. One of the things I am learning is that doing once is plenty.

When I made my list of 100 things I wanted to do before I die eight years ago, I put hot air ballooning at the top of the list. It was something my father always talked about doing, and I thought it would be fun. Although I have a huge fear of heights, I still wanted to attempt the feat. While attending the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Balloon Fiesta, my dream came true, and I was fortunate enough to take a ride with one of the top women balloon pilots in the world, Cheri White. The balloon ride was amazing, exciting, and I would never do it again. I was terrified when I was up in the balloon, but I managed. Being up in the balloon was nothing compared to landing in it. We had a crash landing in the weeds and burrs, and the basket was drug for a distance before we finally stopped. I wasn't hurt, but I was convinced I would never do it again.

It is funny that when I tell people that I would never do it again, most look confused and wonder why. The truth is, I wanted to do it just because. I don't have a passion for hot air balloons or being off the ground for extended amounts of time, for that matter. I just wanted to try it. And for me, that is fine. There are things you only have to do once to know if you want or need to do them again. For me, the balloon ride was worth trying once, and now I can move on to the other things on my list.

I believe that it is important to try things at least once. Recently, I heard someone tell his friend, "I have never done it, but I know I wouldn't like it." You don't know until you try. I would have always wondered what it was like to take a balloon ride. Now I know, and I don't have to do it again. It doesn't mean that I am not glad I did it. I am happy I tried it. But there are plenty of other things I want to do, so I will just continue to move down the list.\