MSEsmitha 0 #1 May 6, 2008 I've been taking a briefing techniques course all week and tomorrow I have to make a 5 minute presentation. I've decided to talk about the ways in which skydiving can affect your everyday life: increased confidence, change in perspective, increased ability to deal with stress, feeling of closeness with God, renewed joy in life... anything. Just wanted to get some thoughts and stories to go with them. I really liked Lori Steffen's article http://www.kensavage.com/index.php/archives/why-do-people-skydive/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 788 #2 May 6, 2008 It's taught me to take pride in my flatulenceI got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinchicken 0 #3 May 6, 2008 Skydiving has challenged me to face every aspect of my personality that I do not like and has helped me change and grow as a person. It has also made me count money in terms of jumps, (let's see that will be 250 bux, that's 7 1/2 jumps, is it worth it?). All my whuffo friends think I dropped off the face of the earth. Every person I date becomes a skydiver(I don't date skydivers, I just make em). The most significant way skydiving has changed my life..... For 13 years I did not speak to my father. Deciding it was time to face my personal demons I reconnected and bought him a skydive for fathers day three years ago. My dad now has two rigs his B license and upward of 300 jumps and we jump together. I can't say I have completely gotten over the past, but with the aid of the sky it is healing. "Diligent observation leads to pure abstraction". Lari Pittman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #4 May 6, 2008 sex changed for me BIG TIME. I went from being a poor performer with an endurance problem to a pornstar with complete control of the money shot almost overnight. seriously. I often wonder if any other people had a similar experience. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #5 May 6, 2008 People think I'm cool! In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 788 #6 May 6, 2008 Unfortunately I haven't had anything like that, but I am getting better endurance-wise. Last night I went to 5 minutes, it was one of the proudest moments of my life!I just wish I'd had somebody to share it with I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkeater 0 #7 May 7, 2008 I've become more of an asshole around my whuffo friends and a nicer person around skydivers. It's also given me a true passion in life whereas before I just enjoyed doing whatever. My alcohol tolerance has returned as well.Muff Brother #4026 Loco Zapatos Rodriguez SCR #14793 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RALFFERS 0 #8 May 7, 2008 I don't know that I have any business posting in this thread, as I'm not currently actively jumping & thus am not even a skydiver [if I was I'd post in the "Name that Ass" thread]....yet. Almost all of you know the story - 2 tandem wonder with a dream... That said - skydiving has changed me, DRASTICALLY! #1 For the 1st time in my life I have a passion, & goals to go along with it; I know I want to pursue this sport for the rest of my life. All it's gonna take is some tunnel time and a lot a little money. I simply love the feeling of flight, & piloting a canopy, well... #2 I have a renewed joy in life, and the physical obstacles I face only motivate me more to get to that gym to do what I need to in order to be able jump. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about being in the sky. My faith in God is stronger I suppose; & suddenly, the world, with all its problems doesn't seem so impossible anymore. The people I met & friends I made thanks to skydiving, whether byway of these forums, or in person - I wouldn't trade anyone of you for the world! Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself - "from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fozz 0 #9 May 7, 2008 Its given me a greater appreciation for the moment. It seems like we sometimes forget how much we have and get to do. Skydiving helps me to realize just how much I do have and get to do John Fosgate "In the end, its always best to choose the hard right over the easy wrong." LouDiamond MB 4310 www.N3Racing.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #10 May 7, 2008 The same way life affects my skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcandalysse 0 #11 May 7, 2008 My wallet is thinner "The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly." --GK Chesterton Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rave4funn 0 #12 May 7, 2008 Quote My wallet is thinner +1. I am now poor.--------------------------------------------------- http://www.myspace.com/rave4funn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
futuredivot 0 #13 May 7, 2008 Right now it affects my life when I can't turn my head to check traffic behind me You are only as strong as the prey you devour Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #14 May 7, 2008 Well... Quote increased confidence yes Quote change in perspective yes Quote increased ability to deal with stress yes (even helped me quit smoking, which I did a lot when under stress) Quote feeling of closeness with God nothing more than before Quote renewed joy in life yes, but less and less with every jump... - In general there is work and there is skydiving (with just a little other stuff). I love my work, but now I see it as a money making activity that supports my skydiving. As one of the previous posters said, you convert any amount of money to skydives (and for me the equipment too). - Over the course of time, i got more and more friends related to skydiving, and less and less whuffo friends. I`m on DZ every weekend, or somewhere else with skydiving friends. Many of my friends broke relationships because of jumping. - My students think I`m cool, but most of the other people don`t. General notion is: "You got away with it once, now you are just pushin` it." - All of my travels are skydiving related. - Being a skydiver, has no significant impact in the attraction of the opposite sex (girls anyway). They say: Oooh... Cool. I could never do something like that. And that`s about it. Find something else to pick up chicks. - My alcohol tolerance went skyhigh... Lot of things about skydiving/lifestyle relationship can be found, where else, on skydiving t-shirts: - My girlfriend said if I jump one more time she was leaving...I'm sure going to miss her! - Live To Jump, Jump To Live - (and my personal favorite) "WARNING! Skydiving is a highly addictive activity that may result in sudden changes in your behavior and personality! Participants may experience some or all of the irreversible side effects. EXCITEMENT! PLEASURE! EUPHORIA! Additional Side-Effects Include: Sudden urge to spend thousands of dollars on skydiving equipment! Peaked curiosity about turbine powered aircraft and small digital video cameras! Inability to sleep past 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings! Frequent cases of daydreaming in the workplace. Loss of interest in routine, boring, weekday activities! Repeated viewing of weather forecasts with frequent uncontrollable outburst of rage towards meteorologists predicting rain, low clouds, or gusty winds! Inability to enjoy any conversation that is not skydiving related! CAUTION! Do not participate in skydiving unless you fully understand the impact of these side effects and are ready to accept full responsibility for your actions! SKYDIVE!" P.S. I kinda became pornstar too. I can endure whole 55 seconds now! wov! dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sletzer 3 #15 May 7, 2008 Quote (and my personal favorite) "WARNING! Skydiving is a highly addictive activity that may result in sudden changes in your behavior and personality! Participants may experience some or all of the irreversible side effects. EXCITEMENT! PLEASURE! EUPHORIA! Additional Side-Effects Include: Sudden urge to spend thousands of dollars on skydiving equipment! Peaked curiosity about turbine powered aircraft and small digital video cameras! Inability to sleep past 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings! Frequent cases of daydreaming in the workplace. Loss of interest in routine, boring, weekday activities! Repeated viewing of weather forecasts with frequent uncontrollable outburst of rage towards meteorologists predicting rain, low clouds, or gusty winds! Inability to enjoy any conversation that is not skydiving related! CAUTION! Do not participate in skydiving unless you fully understand the impact of these side effects and are ready to accept full responsibility for your actions! SKYDIVE!" NICE dude, nice! That bit about the weatherman made me laugh out loud in my office. I've learned that I can now sleep (pass out) almost anywhere: be it a concrete hanger floor, a field, the back of my SUV, a chair, or if I'm lucky on top of some random girl. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RALFFERS 0 #16 May 7, 2008 Quote Lot of things about skydiving/lifestyle relationship can be found, where else, on skydiving t-shirts: - My girlfriend said if I jump one more time she was leaving...I'm sure going to miss her! - Live To Jump, Jump To Live - (and my personal favorite) "WARNING! Skydiving is a highly addictive activity that may result in sudden changes in your behavior and personality! Participants may experience some or all of the irreversible side effects. EXCITEMENT! PLEASURE! EUPHORIA! Additional Side-Effects Include: Sudden urge to spend thousands of dollars on skydiving equipment! Peaked curiosity about turbine powered aircraft and small digital video cameras! Inability to sleep past 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings! Frequent cases of daydreaming in the workplace. Loss of interest in routine, boring, weekday activities! Repeated viewing of weather forecasts with frequent uncontrollable outburst of rage towards meteorologists predicting rain, low clouds, or gusty winds! Inability to enjoy any conversation that is not skydiving related! CAUTION! Do not participate in skydiving unless you fully understand the impact of these side effects and are ready to accept full responsibility for your actions! SKYDIVE!" I haven't laughed so hard in a while! -thanks. Um, where do I get said t-shirt?...Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself - "from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mircan 0 #17 May 7, 2008 Copy/paste whole text into google search. Follow the first link. (just to avoid seller endorsement) This shirt says it all... dudeist skydiver #42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DangerRoo 0 #18 May 7, 2008 Quote Quote (and my personal favorite) "WARNING! Skydiving is a highly addictive activity that may result in sudden changes in your behavior and personality! Participants may experience some or all of the irreversible side effects. EXCITEMENT! PLEASURE! EUPHORIA! Additional Side-Effects Include: Sudden urge to spend thousands of dollars on skydiving equipment! Peaked curiosity about turbine powered aircraft and small digital video cameras! Inability to sleep past 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings! Frequent cases of daydreaming in the workplace. Loss of interest in routine, boring, weekday activities! Repeated viewing of weather forecasts with frequent uncontrollable outburst of rage towards meteorologists predicting rain, low clouds, or gusty winds! Inability to enjoy any conversation that is not skydiving related! CAUTION! Do not participate in skydiving unless you fully understand the impact of these side effects and are ready to accept full responsibility for your actions! SKYDIVE!" NICE dude, nice! That bit about the weatherman made me laugh out loud in my office. I've learned that I can now sleep (pass out) almost anywhere: be it a concrete hanger floor, a field, the back of my SUV, a chair, or if I'm lucky on top of some random girl. I have never laughed so hard at work by 8:30am. this has got to be made into a shirt nice work guys (I.C.D#2 VP) ""I'm good with my purple penis straw" ~sky mama Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites