Last year I admired paragliders high up in the air right in front of the Montblanc, the highest mountain in the Alpes. With a clear feeling in my guts: NOT FOR ME - EVER!

This year we returned for another dream vacation to experience the magic of this area. Here they were again - every morning right after the gondola opened at 9 am to carry these courageous pilots to the top of Plan de Praz. This time we watched them closer - how they arrange tandem flights and how they take off. This time I picked up on the passion for this simple way to fly, the excitement to play with wind and gravity. the elegance and simplicity of paragliding.

So I took several deep breaths, gave it a go for a tandem flight and met my pilot David! However, the top of Plan Praz was in clouds, so we had to wait for a window in the clouds to run down the hill and take off.

Initial euphoria quickly turned into increasing tension: Did I risk too much? I am not a friend of huge roller coasters - this was more intense! In he middle of my internal fights David called me to action: "Raise your left arm straight up and hold this handle. Don't move. Now SLOWY pull it downwards" - and we turned left. He had me repeat the same move with my right arm - my confidence grew, the tension became less!

Yes, physical movement is stronger than fear - I experienced it in action and it made my adventurous day very joyful!

Learn more
about new answers in personal and corporate education!