Bungy jumping makes you feel alive because it pushes you to face fear and experience an intense rush of adrenaline in a moment of pure presence. That combination of courage and accomplishment is why it remains one of the most iconic bucket list experiences in the world.
Kate De Blois, from Quebec, Canada, has spent years chasing a very specific kind of bucket list: fifty things to do before turning fifty.
On her 50th birthday, she ticked off one of the biggest items of them all: bungy jumping.
This moment was especially meaningful for Kate because her mum always talked about doing things later, “I’ll do it when I’m retired,” she used to say. But she passed away before that time came. That experience changed how Kate looks at life:
“I don’t want to wait for something. If I want to do something, I do it. That’s why I want to feel alive.”
Bungy Jumping and a Bucket List
A bucket list isn’t really about ticking off activities. It’s about collecting moments that remind you what life is about.
Moments of wonder.
Moments of courage.
Moments that push you outside your comfort zone.
When Kate was planning her trip to Queenstown, she said to herself, “I have to do a bungy.” Then she pondered where to do it and looked up the highest bungee jump in New Zealand. The Nevis Bungy in Queenstown.
For Kate, the goal of her list was fifty things she’d never done before. And bungy jumping was always going to be one of them.
“Because it’s challenging,” she said. “It’s just for that feeling of free-falling.”
For Kate, turning fifty felt like the halfway mark of life, and the perfect reason to do something a little extraordinary.
“I think it’s a cool thing to do,” she said. “I’ve wanted to bungy since I was young, but I was always too afraid. So when I made my list of 50 things, I thought… this is the moment to finally do it.”
She admitted she felt a little nervous before hitting the “book” button on the website. But once she did, “the stress turned into excitement.”
Bungy Jumping to Feel Alive
There’s something about bungy jumping that wakes up every sense in your body.
Before the jump, Kate felt a mix of emotions, the kind that comes with doing something big.
“I’m nervous, but excited. Afterwards, I think I’ll feel full of energy.”
Part of that confidence, she explained, comes from knowing she’s in good hands.
“I have no worries beforehand. No safety concerns at all. I feel really confident with the company.”
When asked if anything might help her step off the edge, Kate laughed. “Maybe a little push?” she joked. Then she looked out at the view and smiled. “It’s so beautiful… and it’s high. I like it.”
When Kate stepped up to the edge, the moment suddenly felt very real.
“I thought I’d be more ready to jump. But when I looked down, I got a little bit scared. So I took a deep breath… and I jumped.”
“It wasn’t a lot of hesitation,” she said with a laugh. “As soon as I jumped, I was just like, ‘Woohoo! Wow!’”
When you bungy jump, the rush is instant. The wind races past you, gravity takes over, and for a few unforgettable seconds, nothing else in the world exists except the experience. This is why the leap is often described as “life-affirming.”
But for Kate, feeling alive carries a deeper meaning. “My mother always said she wanted to do this and this and this… but she never had the chance.”
That’s why Kate lives the way she does now.
“I don’t want to wait to do something.” That’s why her advice to others is: “Don’t wait. Just live and do what you want. Do it now.”
And in many ways, she feels like she’s not doing it alone.
“She’s always with me when I do these things,” Kate said. “I think she’s part of it.”
During the fall, Kate said her mind filled with one thought. “I was thinking, I’m flying. And I was thinking about my mother. I said, ‘Did you see it?’”
“I felt like she was with me. I think she would be proud of me.”
When asked to describe how she felt afterwards in just one word, Kate said: “Energised… and full of love.”
Now Kate has a message for anyone thinking about taking the leap.
“We only have one life. So we should do lots of things. Different things, challenging things. That’s why I made my list.”
“Maybe don’t wait until 50. You can start before.”
That’s why so many people say bungy jumping makes them feel alive. It’s the thrill of letting go and facing your fears, and the incredible feeling on the other side when you realise you actually did it. And it was a beautiful moment.
Looking back on the list she’s been working through, Kate hopes to: “feel proud of what I’ve done.”
Her advice to others is: just try.
“Look at them,” she says, pointing to people who have just jumped. “They’re alive. They jump… and afterwards they’re still alive.”
Now that Kate has ticked bungy jumping off her 50 before 50 list, she’s heading back to the campground for a well-earned glass of champagne. After that, it’s time to start deciding what adventure she’ll check off next.
For Kate, the jump wasn’t just another item on a list; it was a reminder to make the most of the one life we’re given.
FAQ’s
Is it normal to feel scared at the edge?
Yes! Even though Kate was determined to tick this off her list, she admitted she got “a little bit scared” when she looked down. Her advice is to take a deep breath and jump, the hesitation doesn’t last long once you’re in the air.
Do the staff help you jump?
While Kate joked about needing a “little push,” she noted that she felt very confident and safe with the company. The experience is about facing your own fear, but knowing you are “in good hands” helps build the confidence to take the leap.