How I Finally Got Over Myself and Climbed the Bridge!

I had always thought the Harbour Bridge climb in Sydney was something I could never do. I always thought that I couldn’t possibly be brave enough, strong enough or free enough to do such a big thing, a real bucket list item.

I mean it’s iconic, isn’t it! People come from all over the world to live this experience. From the cast of modern family to Oprah and her group, everyone has heard of the bridge climb and for many it’s an absolute must.

Then there are people like me, and there are lots of them, who are so terrified of the very idea of walking on the outside of the highest bridge climb in the world, that they don’t even entertain the idea that one day they might actually do it.

I am a 55 year old woman who once had a panic attack on a family/kiddie monorail ride at adventure world in Perth Australia, anyone who knows Perth will know that it’s not that high and certainly not scary, yet for me it was. Me and heights have not been friends for a long time.

I don’t know if I always had a fear of heights or not but I suddenly became acutely aware of it after I had my children, I seemed to suddenly have a heightened sense of danger around so many things. Probably due to my trauma background I was aware that every time something good came into my life some thing or someone took it from me, so scared was I of anything happening to my children I looked for possible threats everywhere, including falling from any height.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the bridge climb. My children are now fully grown, one with a baby of their own, and I realised that I have spent my life in fear, not doing the things I want to do, not enjoying life the way it should be enjoyed, not wanting to spend the rest of my life the same I decided to do something about it.

Face the fear and the fear falls away, isn’t that what they say?

So, my daughter and I booked a flight to Sydney, booked a tour of the opera house, booked dinner and a show, a high tea on the harbour and yes, you’ve guessed it… a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Three hours that will change my life forever.

Leading up to the climb I was excited and looking forward to it, the closer I got to it I realised that I was no longer looking forward to the climb but to it being over. I wasn’t dreading it, I was bypassing it in my mind. Rather than over think it and freak myself out I was jumping straight to the relief and sense of accomplishment I would have after the event.

Which sounds great, a positive visualisation, but I think it was more bury my head in the sand, wishing that I could speed up time and skip to being safely on the other side of this mammoth (to me) challenge I had set myself.

So there I was standing there in my Bridge Climb jumpsuit and harness getting ready to do the practice steps they get you to do so you understand how to take the steps safely with your clip keeping you attached to the bridge at all times. I pulled myself together and walked up the stairs, I had to wait at the top as a fellow climber was still on the stairs, I felt my knees weaken and my heart rate quicken, a few deep breaths and I managed to get down again. Practice run over.

Out to the main bridge and it was here on the flat walkway a couple of stories up that I suddenly questioned myself “why put yourself though this?” I am Proud to say that I answered myself very quickly and without doubt or hesitation I said “because you will be letting yourself down, no one else, there is NOTHING stopping you other that the fear and crappy thoughts going around in your head. You are perfectly able and capable of climbing this bridge with all these other people. They aren’t questioning your ability, your bravery, your courage or your right to achieve your goal of climbing this f***ing bridge!

Yes, I had a little wobble (emotionally not physically) on one part of the climb but after that I relaxed and enjoyed every step of the way, the views are what you’d expect x 100, the exhilaration is palpable. The sense of achievement of getting over yourself, getting over your fears is unmatched by anything else I have done.

While it’s not cheap to climb the Harbour Bridge it is value for money. The views alone are worth every last cent, but the sense of accomplishment is priceless.

Don’t let fear stop you from realising anything. Your fears are there to stop you, but if you muster up the courage to face the fear it falls away leaving you freer and stronger than ever before ready to step boldly into your future.

Remember, you are better than you think you are xx 

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