Jump. Because.

"I jump because I got to live in London for 6 months on my parents money! CHEERS!" -Bryant

The London Eye, London, England

"We jump because it's party time!" -Anjie, Emily, Claire, Becky

Brooklyn, New York

"I jump because I was in nyc visiting a very good friend, and had the pleasure of meeting her boyfriend.  As luck should have it, he has a rooftop patio!  I jump for old friends, new friends, and good views!" - Paula

Manhattan, New York

Today we are going to do something a little different. We came across Craig's story and thought it was really special. There are moments in life where we are confronted with things that inspire fear; we then have to make a choice to either cling to the fear or to JUMP in and face it. This story is for all of you who are jumpers, both in photographs and in life. Thank you, Craig, for sharing your story.

Jump for Life!

Do you have a story of how you "jumped in"? Please share it with us at jumpbecause@gmail.com.

Eventually you hold your nose and JUMP!

When I was growing up the best moments that I remember were had during the summer camping on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands.   It was always filled with joy as the entire family was around, we would have fishing tournaments, cook s'mores, gather round the campfire until all hours of the night, and hike the nature trails.   I remember days when getting onto a raft at one end of the Wellesley Island campgrounds and floating with the current for a mile took hours, and there was nothing I'd rather be doing.

Inevitably the current would take you to the castle ruins.  The ruins were on top of a 40 foot cliff on the top of an outcropping peninsula.  All the cool kids hung out at the ruins.  The cliffs were the gauntlet that proved you belonged with cool kids.  Don't even think of hanging if you weren't jumping.  

I never was the type to run to the top of the cliff and jump because everyone else was jumping.  I am far more analytical than that.  First take a good measure of the cliff -- 35 to 40 feet.  Next watch the way that everyone else jumps, 1, 2, 3 steps then push off (add flare here) hit the water feet first arms down.  OK, no one is coming up bloody, but that's not enough.   Go to the bottom of the cliff and do depth soundings all around the landing spot.  Looks like as long as you land out 12 feet from the base of the cliff you can't hit bottom.

Some kids just jump because everyone else jumps.  Some kids never jump -- they just don't have the stomach for it.   I analyze, validate, weigh the risks.   I ask questions and think about possible danger scenarios.   I may have missed minor opportunities by taking my time and making sure jumping was the proper course of action, but I've haven't yet jumped where I shouldn't have.  Eventually you have to take some risks, eventually you hold your nose and JUMP !

By Craig Wood
http://www.craigsblog.com/

St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands (Wellesley Island), New York

"We jump because we are spontaneously improvising a new Jewish dance, just a few of us after our Studentim small group, which meets as part of Hope of Israel congregation.  http://www.hopeofisrael.info/studentim." -John, Elizabeth, Sara, Matt, and Leslie

Charlotte, North Carolina

She jumps for that "whole grain crunch"...

Submitted by Henry

"I jumped because I had just learned about jump because." - Chris

...upon seeing his photo, Chris commented "That's the best jumping picture I've ever had!"

Manhattan, New York

"We jump half for wine bottle cups and half for Joren moving to a new home. We wish him luck in his new job!" -Paul, Paula, Isaac, Joren, Michael, and Morrison family

Outside Ipanema's, Richmond, Virginia

"I jump because...well...when in Rome!!  And after I took this jumping picture, another woman started taking jumping pictures in front of the Colosseum.  I started a jumping trend! Maybe she too will send her pictures into jumpbecause.com..." -Michelle

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

"I jump because I am with my wife, and we are newly wed." -John

Chesapeake Bay (circa 2005), Virginia