These days, there isn\u2019t much I can do to feel genuinely embarrassed. Of course unexpected situations happen \u2014 you trip and drop food in the caf, you fall off your bike in front of your crush, or you wave at someone who is waving at the person behind you. All of these have happened to me. However, I think learning how to laugh these off is something I have embraced. Each of these moments, whether we care to admit it or not, has happened to us all. I learned best how to brush it off when I lept off the cliffs at Heber Springs.
\nThere was no better way to end my freshman year than being asked to a function. It was the day before Dead Week began, and it was going to be packed with fun. Tons of my close gal pals and guy friends were packed into a car to go to one of the most iconic functions at Heber Springs. Having never been to the cliffs before, I wasn\u2019t really sure of their height or how safe it was to jump.
\nI don\u2019t have a fear of heights or water, but cliffs like these were something I had never conquered. From the time I was asked to the function, I started to build up the courage with a couple of friends to jump.
\nAfter many attempts to pull me out to the cliffs, I made my way out to watch some friends show off their bravery. I decided I wasn\u2019t going to go in, but was soon influenced by those around me to just give it one try.
\nIt only takes one time.
\nI clasped hands with a friend, and after a few trial runs, I finally made the leap. But when I hit the water, I knew something wasn\u2019t right. Immediately my tailbone started throbbing, and I needed help climbing back up to the top of the cliffs from the water.
\nThe next day, with an X-ray and doctor\u2019s appointment to confirm, I learned my tailbone had been fractured from hitting the water.
\nFor the last two weeks of school, which require a lot of sitting to study and take tests, I carried around a bright red, innertube-looking \u201cbum pillow\u201d to chapel, class, restaurants, the library and wherever else I had to go. I was so embarrassed every time I told the story, and I definitely didn\u2019t want to carry around my personal innertube.
\nThrough it all, I learned to laugh at myself and accept that what happened, happened. I had to laugh at my situation, even if it did hurt a little, because laughing made the situation better. My suggestion? Learn to laugh at yourself faster than I did. Don\u2019t wait for the end of freshman year. Start now.
\nYour most embarrassing story may bring someone to tears with laughter \u2014 laughter they need. It could brighten someone\u2019s day. Now I love telling this story because it brings smiles to people\u2019s faces. Yes, go jump off the cliffs at Heber Springs, but please jump in as straight as a pencil\u2026 Otherwise it might be you sitting in stand up, sit down chapel because it\u2019s too painful to participate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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