Today’s an interior design post. And by interior design, I’m referring to the kind on the right side of the picture below…
It’s about the day I decided to see Rock City and how I forced myself to move a mental mountain thanks to a wobbly walkway that I was positive I’d never be able to cross.
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It was called the Swing-A-Long Bridge and I had no idea you had to cross the thing to get out of the park. It stopped me dead in my tracks, and I truly believed, with every fiber of my being, that I would not be able to cross it.
No way.
No how.
Not. Gonna. Happen.
I mean, I really, really believed it just wasn’t something that I could do.
For some reason, I don’t do well with a number of things, but extra loud places, extra quiet places, extra dark places, and extra high places are a few of my biggest fears.
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And believe me when I say, the Swing-A-Long Bridge feels even more treacherous than it looks in that last photo. It had an Indiana-Jones-and-the-Temple-Of-Doom vibe and visions of a falling Harrison Ford & Co. began to run rampant in my mind.
Walking all the way back through the park wasn’t really an option though. At one point you have to go through something called “Fat Man’s Squeeze”, and as you can see in the photo below, it’s really a one-way traffic kind of a thing:
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So, much to my dismay, I had to get across that bridge if I wanted to go home. (insert paralysis here)
It was about that same time, a group of young kids came running up full speed behind me. I noticed their parents walking in the distance behind them, and it was pretty apparent the kids could not WAIT to bounce their way across that scary, swingy thing.
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And when I say “bounce their way”, I mean: all three kids grabbed ahold of those rope rails, and seriously shook that sucker up and down the entire way across it.
It was horrifying and comforting all at the same time. Horrifying for obvious reasons, and comforting because once they made it safely across, (whew!) I did feel a wee flicker of youcandothis.
It was in that moment that I decided to just do it. I had to quit thinking about it, and just do it.
I looked behind me to make sure there weren’t any more speedy little bridge bouncers coming up from behind, and once I was certain the coast was clear, I grabbed ahold of those rope rails and started walking. The walkway bobbed up and down with each careful step, and I heard noises that had my heart racing like crazy. I kept my eyes firmly fixed on the finish line the whole way.
Needless to say, I made it to the other side, and I was instantly filled to the brim with happiness and adrenaline! I felt so alive, (no pun intended) and ever since then, I’ve referred to those types of accomplishments as “rope bridge moments”.
I’ll admit, I’m still too chicken to put myself in those kinds of positions more than a few couple times a year, but forcing myself through something that initially feels scary-impossible, and experiencing a rope bridge moment after the fact, does help me to remember that I don’t have to be fearless. I just need to try to not let my fears paralyze me from taking action. And even though they are few and far between- rope bridge moments sure do have a way of adding up, don’t they?
Congrats!
It’s all about conquering those fears right? For some it’s heights (you and my husband), and for some it’s needles (that one MIGHT be me). But sometimes you just HAVE to do it … I think this was the BEST way for you to conquer it because you had NO other choice. That’s how I feel when I go to the Doctor and they need blood. I HATE it. I faint sometimes, I sweat excessively and grossly, but I have no choice … and you know what? We’re both still alive! And we’ve bother conquered, even if really slowly and one step at a time. ; )
Congrats to you! That is a HUGE accomplishment. Myself – I would have been paralyzed at that Fat Man deal. No way could I have squeezed through that as super claustaphobic
I AM impressed! I avoided that bridge in favor of the rock one. Is that one not available any more? (I was there in 2001.) I have a photo of my best friend on the evil, swinging bridge, and she took one of me on the more stable one. I bow down to your courage in tackling it!
Way to go! It looks scary. But I think the squeezy rock thing looks even scarier!!!
Thanks for the encouraging post!
Scary! Helps you remember that “can” and “can’t” are a state of mind! Thanks for the enlightening post!
Love your heart. I too am scared of heights and also claustaphobic so as I was reading I was thinking, “well, I’ll never visit Rock City.” =P I literally have a recurring dream about being in a cave and not being able to get through a tight spot so that Fat Man’s Squeeze would probably be worse for me. Congrats to you though! Love your quote! That will be burning Pinterest up soon. 😉
Generally, those things don’t bother me but many situations like that paralyze my husband. I will say however, that while going through Fat Man’s Squeeze would be possible, it wouldn’t be enjoyable! Have you seen the glass “deck” that goes out over the Grand Canyon? Would you go out on that? I have been to the GC and camped at the very bottom, but I’m hoping to get back to view it through that glass floor.. My husband will not even go to to the GC. He is too afraid of looking over the edge into the canyon and if you won’t do that, then what is the point of going?! Glad you made it across in one piece…and didn’t you just want to smack those no-fear kids? LOL.
You are so creative! The post-it definition of youcandoit, the graphic of types of interior rennovation… That’s talent!
I’m pinning your rope bridge moment quote onto my ‘well said’ board. Love this!
You are impressive…… just reading your post and seeing the pictures made my stomach roll. This year I tried to overcome my fear and try ziplining. BIG mistake. HUGE. (to quote an old movie) I freaked on the 2nd zipline (not the 1st one when I could’ve walked back….) and one of the pros had to take me down the next 7 lines. Arghhh…… Note to self: do NOT go to Rock City!
The older I get, the more scared I am of things like this. Last summer my extended family went to an amusement park. I talked myself into going on the craziest roller coaster with the young cousins. I thought I would die I was so scared, but I am so happy I did it. But never again 🙂
Layla,
I needed this today. I’ve been putting my daily runs off since being attacked by the ‘Jersey Devil’.
Time for me to cross that ‘rope bridge’!
Your Friend,
Deborah
I’m 65 years old and I remember walking across that bridge as a 4 year old and watching my mom’s purse slide down her shoulder as she walked in front of me holding on for dear life!
What a lovely memory, Sandy…
Love this Layla! Your writing is so thoughtful and clever and among the best out there! Great story! Thanks for the inspiration this afternoon! :-)) LA
Good for you girl! This is one of those “no way I could that” things…the only way I would have made it across that was to crawl. I have a MONUMENTAL fear of heights…just LOOKING at that bridge scares me. I guess I would still have to be in Rock City. Now are you up to doing a zip line??
kelly
Layla – what a great accomplishment! My daughter has terrible acrophobia – can barely climb a ladder, so I have observed this kind of panicky reaction to high flying stress many times.
(by the way, this is bound to get pinned, so you’ll want to correct your spelling of ‘exhilarating’. XO)
Hi Kathy,
I can relate to the fear of ladders also. Eek! (And thank you for the heads up on the spelling error!) 😉
Your experience reminds me of when I karate chopped a block of wood (after 2 attempts) and walked (ok, scurried) through hot coals. Amazing feeling of accomplishment!! Congrats & thanks for posting.
Yay for the karate chopping and coal walking, Anne! 😀
Hmmmm…..I swear that I remember some alternate routes to the bridge and crevices because I was pregnant and wasn’t allowed to do those stunts. Good job, though. Next time you’ll know.
Maybe I should read this post again right before I try swimming this summer. Maybe it’ll inspire me to take off the life vest and stop white knuckling it!
Congrats! The bridge would be no problem for me but the Fat Man Squeeze? I had to scroll past that picture real fast like. I had to remind myself to breathe.
Forget the bridge, I think I could do that, but that crevice (Fat Man Squeeze), I’d panic. Really. I would. I’ve never considered myself claustrophobic, but just looking at that sets my heart racing. lol
//quote//and seriously shook that sucker up and down the entire way across it//unquote//
Never mind that they should not have been allowed to that, but there you go. lol
Wow not sure I could have done that. I remember doing one when I was in Girl Scouts, it wasn’t nearly that long though. But that crawling thru the Fat Man thing would really get me!
What an inspiring post! I went to Rock City a few summer’s ago when I was living in Tennessee, and the bridge was definitely the most memorable! I remember panically telling my husband not to make it bounce!!
Layla, I *am* you… 23 years ago, on our honeymoon in Europe, we visited the Duomo in Florence. I made it up the narrow (claustrophobic) stairwell to the observation platform on the dome… Four years ago, however, at Grandfather Mountain, NC I could not do the suspension bridge from one peak to the other. If it had of been the only way out, yeah, then maybe…
I couldn’t do either the bridge or the fat man’s squeeze but I wish I had your courage to try but nope not going too not never, sorry I just can’t thanks for sharing ……
So impressed! Rock City is the how I developed my fear of heights. We were there when I was very young (55 now) and my dad and little brother couldn’t wait to go on that swinging bridge . My mom and I decided to take the other option, a stone bridge that ran parallel a few yards over. I would be surprised if it is still there, don’t think it would pass safety standards. It was bout 2 ft.wide with a pretty little edge about 18″ high and that was it, no hand rail or enclosed sides. We made it across but I believe it scarred me for life 😀 Congrats on making it across.
I LOVE Rock City! I grew up in Tennessee and we went there for field trips and on family vacations. Those pictures bring back such fond memories. 🙂
And congrats on your rope bridge moment. There truly is nothing like the adrenaline rush and euphoria that comes from conquering your fears. 🙂
Thanks again for the trip down memory lane. And as always, I ♥ your blog.
Layla ~
First – I needed to hear {read} this one tonight. So thanks.
Although I am not afraid of heights, I stopped dead in my tracks and my heart started pounding ferociously when I saw your picture of the fat man squeeze. Can you tell I am deathly afraid of enclosed spaces, esp those with no escape {ie elevators}. lol. I guess everyone has their own little fears. Great job on powering through! 🙂
Bless your heart. Methinks you’d never make it thru “The Tower of Terror” at DisneyWorld. I tried that ONE TIME! I all but climbed onto the lap of the woman to my right, who I did not know. Yeh, honey — you’d not like this either!!!!!
Ah Layla………………we know you can do anything! Congrats for capturing your fears!
So proud of you! I pinned your rope bridge moment pic to remind me to go for it with my own moment that’s looming in the next few weeks! This post came at the perfect time.
NOPE, Could NOT do it!!! I had trouble crossing the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, especially when they let cars drive across it and it shook the whole time. My legs were noodles the whole time, and almost threw up!
Good for you!!!!! ~ Kim
We went there this past summer, paid the big bucks, and all I did was sit around the gift shop! Saw that Gorge and said NO FREAKIN WAY! My family went over in the gondola and walked back across the gorge while I couldn’t even get to the edge of the viewing platform! I was so mad at myself, but it didn’t propel me to do it!
Funny. (funny strange, not funny haha) You were one of my rope-bridge moments at PW’s book signing. I wanted to introduce myself and speak to you, but I was also a little awe struck! I battled with myself back and forth and at the last moment I made myself jump out of line to speak with you. You know what, it was so worth it. You were friendly, warm, and made me feel special. Thanks Layla for just being you!
Rock City…I’ve crossed that bridge – I was close to 10 or 11. I don’t think it scared me then, but it probably would now. Way to go!!
I’m so scared of heights too and I’ve been trying to conquer that lately. It’s so crazy, it really does something inside you when you tackle something like that. Thanks for the encouragement! Love reading about your journey 🙂
Thanks so much for the inspiration, the interior kind! I too have alot of fears and it is so nice to see my feelings put into words, especially the rope bridge moment feelings! It always helps to know you are not alone in what is going on between our ears.
We CAN do this!
I love Rock City. Did you go to Ruby Falls too?
Good for you! And thank you for the inspiration.
YEAHHH for you!!! We call those moments sphincter moments. tee hee So what gives, you get all the way across and no Kevin to capture this event on film??!! WHAT? Maybe you should go back and do it again. :o)
YOU BECAME “THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD”!!!!! “I think I can.. I think I can…..LOL… Congratulations…. cause I will admit right here and now… I would probably STILL BE CAMPING OUT!!!!!
Layla, I’m so proud of you. My heart was beating so fast as I was reading – like it was happening to me. You did it!! Where is Rock City? I’m on the east coast. I visited Santa Fe years ago with my daughter & we went to Bandolier Nat’l Monument. Tried to climb to the Ceremonial Cave way, way up the top of the park – 3 ladders & narrow trails to walk. Made it up 1 ladder. My daughter had to stop people traffic so I could climb down. I was literally frozen in place. I still regret that the fear won. So good for you, strut your stuff – you did it once & don’t have o do it again (if you don’t want to). Love your blog & style!!
I love your interior design moments! Thanks for sharing!
The “fat man squeeze” ! Just looking at it made my heart jump and run. AWAY. Bridge, no problem. Narrow tight space, NOPE. But then again, if I HAD to, I would do it. Good for you, Layla!
Oh Layla! I am right there with you! You are much stronger than I am…I too have the paralysis thing going on about heights. I also feel like my legs will turn to jello and I will get dizzy and fall, not to mention, wet my pants! And then if I tried to go over a rope bridge, I think I would have a heart attack and die. I’ve got it bad! I am SO proud of you!
Way to go. Just grab your fears by the horns and ride away with them!! Ha Ha. Never let fear get you down. Fear is a lack of faith, did you know that?
wickedly happy for you!
and if it isn’t condescending to say, i’m so proud of you!
I love love love this post! I do believe some of us are just born with a tendency to fear or dislike certain things. I ave never been able to endure roller coasters in spite of several attempts, all terrifying, of forcing myself to get used to them .
But what you describe is different. Kudos to your bravery! Iit was the Fat Man’s Squeeze that made my heart race. I am not overweight but what about the average American who may be overweight but still able to make it through the park? That looks like a thin and claustrophobic passage to me. What if the person couldn’t get through?
I’ll be looking for your post on skydiving next. Just kidding. A other thing I won’t do unless forced.
The swing bridge actually looks fun to me, however, there is NO way you could get me to go through Fat Man’s Squeeze, really, no way! So I am very proud of you for facing your fear!!! Did fat man’s squeeze not bother you? Yikes!
Well, Layla, I can tell you that if I got to that Fat Man Squeeze, that’s the point where I would turn right around and head back through the park cause I’m severely claustophobic! I went to Egypt when I was in high school and had a chance to go in one of the pyramids, but when they told me I’d have to get on my hands and knees and crawl into the pyramid with people in front of and behind me, I said “No thanks, I’ll stay on the bus”. Still don’t regret it.