I like many sat glued on YouTube watching the preparation and then the ascent of Felix Baumgartner.  He’s known a daredevil having done many freefalling stunts.  And yet, he wanted to challenge himself to do something no one has ever done before.

So there I and millions of others were keeping out eyes and ears focused as he made his ascent high into the Stratosphere.  The reporter kept us informed what would happen before he made his jump.  As we watched him climb above the “Armstrong Line” – the level at which water starts to boil because of low pressure, I know I was sitting glued praying he would make it safe.

When he passed his previous high jump of 97,000 feet and approached 100,000.. I felt the intensity rise.  As he surpassed the previous high mark of Joe Kittinger’s mark of 102,800 feet I think the world knew we were going to witness something truly spectacular.  When he passed the previous high level that any human has gone in a balloon (113,740 ft) by Commander Malcolm D. Ross and Lieutenant Commander Victor A. Prather, Jr. (US Navy) in 1961, my heart started racing.

Finally reaching the 120,000 ft level did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.  At least until they were going through the checklist and the capsule was depressurized just after Felix Baumgartner’s suit was pressurized.  Once the capsule reached equal pressure with the outside, the door was opened.  And out he stepped onto the platform.  There he has to be careful not to catch any part of the capsule with his suit and to not fall awkwardly.

He then jumped.  Just over a half minute later he reached 833.9 miles per hour!  That’s Mach 1.24!  He has blasted pass the speed of sound!  And when he finally deployed his chute, I’m sure the world was able to relax.

That thing about this historical event was that Felix Baumgartner took action on a dream.  He faced many challenges and worked hard to make this moment in time happen.  Yes, he risked his life.  Though, his training and countless calculations made it better.

Each of us may have had dreams or have them now.  Their may be a few challenges in your way.  It matter not what they are.  Will you do what it takes to take action towards your dream and make it a reality or will you simply end up like the great majority of people and play it safe.  Eventually saying in your twilight years, “I would of… I should of… I could of…”

I say GO FOR IT!  DO IT NOW!  And DREAM BIG!