Jumping Off
leaning out the open door
time roars by
it’s gone
no more
I wonder what my life might be
had I the courage to jump free
behind me in the train’s cocoon
dreams fly off to distant moons
faces glued to heartless screens
joyless stares and silent screams
and so we travel every day
secure and safe or so we say
the child no longer comes to play
the status quo will have its way
will I stay an untold story
remain in hopeless purgatory
pretending that I care no more
soul crying for its need to soar
then I jumped off into space
the unknown flying in my face
It’s not clear where I will land
no matter
I am free again
By Tio Stib
At twenty eight, Tio Stib was a dedicated social worker running a day camp for kids. Though his career was fulfilling in its charity, Tio realized that helping others wasn’t allowing him to fully pursue his passion. He decided to depart from social work to jump. He attended architecture school and was finally able to release his creative zeal through his career.
But then came the toughest jump of all.
Three years ago, Tio lost his vision and with it the ability to build the architecture he had learned and grown to love. Now, he builds with words, creating stories with solutions, hoping to entertain, educate, and perhaps inspire others to imagine and build their own dreams.
When to Jump is a collection of people, places, and ideas relating to when to go do what you really want to go do. For more stories like this, sign up for our occasional newsletter here. You can follow When to Jump on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
