Our journey through life is eerily similar to a roller coaster ride. We travel unknowing on a track that has many vicissitudes, twists, turns, loops, tunnels, and variable speeds. Hopes, dreams, and expectations are set prior to the coaster living the station.
We embark towards adulthood by traveling up a steep incline. The ascent to the top of a hill requires tremendous energy and a slow deliberate pace. The pace gives us an opportunity to find our bearings, establish our foundation, and grow into our journey. Anticipation and expectations intensify as we near the top.
Reaching the top ignites a celebration for all that we have accomplishment. We find ourselves traveling along a plateau seeing the world in a different light. Peace and calm set in. We are comfortable, but there is this unsettled energy running through our veins. Something is missing.
Faster than we can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” we take a sharp unexpected steep descent. The race to the bottom happens in a flash with incredible speed. Our emotions bubble to the surface as quickly as we lose our stomach. Our physical body oscillates around our seat desperately seeking safety, security and stability of the plateau. We do not have time to think. We can only react. We have lost control.
Roller coasters travel a predictable path. Engineers designed the ride to produce the same experience ride after ride. They have planned set of controlled events with a defined beginning and end. We as riders do not experience each coaster ride the same every time.
Our emotional and physical response to each twist and turn can be very unpredictable from ride to ride. The more tightly we cling to control, the more fear, angst, and uneasiness we bring into our experience. The less we enjoy the ride. The more we let go of control, the more laughter, joy, and happiness will rule the day. The more we enjoy the ride, the more we are ready to experience more rides.
We are in control of our roller coaster experience. We can cling to our pre-programmed engineered response or we can let go and allow ourselves to have a new experience. We are responsible for our roller coaster life experience.
Strap in. Take a deep breath. Relax and enjoy the ride!
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