"I did not just fall in love. I made a parachute jump"

Zora Neale Hurston's quote, "I did not simply fall in love. I made a parachute dive", is an abundant metaphor that encapsulates the complex, exciting, and often scary experience of love. At its core, the quote juxtaposes the typical expression "falling in love" with "making a parachute jump", hence changing the passive act of falling under an active, intentional action. This difference is crucial as it highlights love as a conscious option, a daring leap instead of an unintentional stumble.

Parachute jumping is a deliberate act that requires nerve, preparation, and a desire to embrace uncertainty. Likewise, love needs similar qualities. When one picks to like, they are not simply succumbing to feelings or circumstances; they are actively deciding to open themselves as much as vulnerability and danger. Simply as a parachutist experiences a mix of worry and excitement, a person in love navigates a variety of emotions, from the thrilling highs of connection and intimacy to the stressful uncertainties of dedication and prospective heartbreak.

Additionally, parachute jumping symbolizes trust-- a trust in the parachute to open, in the instructors, and ultimately, in oneself. In love, trust is similarly vital. One should trust in their partner, in the relationship's capacity for growth, and in their ability to overcome challenges together. This act of trust magnifies the intensity and depth of the experience, having sex not just a feeling, but an extensive journey of faith and courage.

Hurston's choice of metaphor also underscores the uniqueness of love. While falling suggests a uniform, inevitable action directed by gravity, parachuting is an individual leap picked and performed by the person. It reflects the uniqueness of each person's experience of love-- how they view it, engage with it, and are transformed by it.

In essence, the quote recommends that love, similar to a parachute dive, is a strong, transformative endeavor that requires nerve, intention, and trust. It is not something that passively happens to us, however something we actively pick to partake in, completely knowledgeable about its dangers and rewards.